South Coast Stands Out At 3C2A State Swim Championships

The presence of the South Coast Conference stood out at the 3C2A State Swimming and Diving Championships held May 2-4 at Orange Coast College's Aquatics Pavilion. 

The El Camino College dynamic duo of sophomore Mia Park and freshman Iyanah Samayoa were named the Women's Co-Swimmers of the Meet after a record-breaking weekend. 

The pair combined for six gold medal wins with Park breaking the state meet record in the 1650-yard freestyle, posting a new standard of 17:04.63. She broke a 12-year old record set by Jade Morton of Golden West back in 2012 by just .07 of a second (17:04.70).

Park will go down as one of the greatest swimmers in California Community College history, winning six state titles over her two seasons and scoring the Swimmer of the Meet both years. She captured the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle in 2023 and repeated in the 200 and 500 free along with her record-breaking win on Saturday.

Not to be outdone, Park's teammate was also chasing a third title in as many days as Samayoa was shooting for a win in the 200 breaststroke. She jumped out to a lead and never relinquished it, winning the event by nearly three seconds for her third state event triumph. Samayoa posted a 2:18.62 mark. Overall, Samayoa won state titles in both breaststroke events and the 200 individual medley.

While Santa Barbara City College claimed the women's state team championship with a score of 460 points, the South Coast represented high in the standings as Long Beach City (255) grabbed third place, followed by El Camino in fourth with 248, and Mt. San Antonio in sixth at 217. 

OTHER SOUTH COAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT STATE SWIM

On the men's side that featured a fourth straight state title by North region's Sierra, Mt. SAC placed third in the team standings with 318 points while El Camino took sixth with 234.

Two state champions were from Mt. SAC in Samuel Slezak in the 1,650 freestyle (15:35.93) and Eric Yeh in the 100 backstroke (49.92).

Other high medal finishers for both genders:

MEN-Tony Montes, Long Beach, second, 200 backstroke, Nathaniel D'Aloisio, Long Beach, second, 200 butterfly, Slezak, third, 500 freestyle; Fin Kircher, El Camino, third, 400 individual medley

WOMEN-El Camino, second, 400 medley relay; third, 200 medley relay, third, 400 freestyle relay, Long Beach, second, 800 freestyle relay, Eleanna Ramos, Mt. SAC, second, 100 butterfly; second, 200 butterfly