Cougars Swim Again, Host WSC Meet No. 1

College of the Canyons hosted the season-opening Western State Conference (WSC) Meet at the Cougar Natatorium on Friday, attracting a field of more than 70 swimmers from five schools, competing in 26 events. COC's men's team finished fifth at the meet, with no entrants on the women's side. —Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

February 19, 2022

Story and photo by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

College of the Canyons hosted the first Western State Conference (WSC) meet of the season at the Cougar Natatorium on Friday, attracting a field of more than 70 swimmers representing five schools and competing in 26 events.

Canyons had just seven swimmers entered in the event representing one of the smaller program contingents on hand.

Martin Wise led the Cougars with nine event points, while Cody Faust posted the best individual event finish, taking third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.55). Bryan Orozco and Bence Endresz both finished the day with seven event points.

Cuesta College, which boasted a roster of 21 entrants, won the men's meet with 176 event points far outpacing runner-up Allan Hancock College (88) and third place Santa Monica College (85). L.A. Pierce (47) was closely followed by COC (44) in the fifth-place spot.

On the women's side it was L.A. Pierce and Santa Monica tying for the event lead with 82 points. Cuesta (50) finished third and was trailed only by Allan Hancock (41). Canyons did not enter any women's team swimmers for this meet.

Friday's event came on the heels of the season-opening Long Beach Preview held at Ventura College on Feb. 11. The Cougars swam to a ninth-place combined team result at that meet.

Canyons will compete with a roster of primarily Santa Clarita Valley area swimmers this season, with student-athletes hailing from Saugus, Valencia and West Ranch High School, and another from Granada Hills Charter.

Up next, the Cougars swim at the two-day Mt. San Antonio College (SAC) Invitational in Walnut beginning Friday, Feb. 25.

Full event results from WSC Meet No. 1 are available here.

Canyons Top Performers

200-yard medley relay – The combination of Bence Endresz (back), Cody Faust (breast), Julian Cruz (butterfly), Martin Wise (free) turned in a time of 1:52.49 to finish fourth at the WSC opener.
Cody Faust — 3rd place, 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.55)

Martin Wise — 4th place, 100-yard breaststroke (1:09.01); 5th place, 100-yard freestyle (54.72)

Bence Endresz — 4th place, 100-yard backstroke (1:02.17); 5th place, 50-yard breaststroke (24.32)

Bryan Orozco — 4th place, 50-yard freestyle (6:28.08); 7th place, 200-yard IM (2:27.93)

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.