Tigers Capture OEC Men’s Swim and Dive Title

The Riverside City College men's swimming and diving team captured the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) championship on Saturday at Orange Coast College. The Tigers now set their sights on the 3C2A championships in 10 days.

Riverside City was a force at the OEC Finals, winning 10 separate events and finishing 174 points in front of their closest competitor. The Tigers had three wins from Dionisio Martinez-Spencer, who continues to have one of the better seasons in the state. Martinez-Spencer won the 500 Freestyle (4:32.76), 100 Backstroke (50.69) and 200 Backstroke (1:49.13) in earning a team-leading 60 points for the meet. Riverside also had the Diver-of-the-Meet in Zachary Mcdonald, who won both the 1-meter dive (228.50) and 3-meter dive (234.50) competitions.  Wyatt Miner was a winner in the 200 Individual Medley (1:52.85) while Jared Ladinez captured the title in the 100 Breaststroke (55.61). RCC also won titles in the 200 Freestyle Relay (1:24.16), 400 Medley Relay (3:22.71) and 200 Medley Relay (1:32.28).  

Golden West edged inter-district rival Orange Coast for second place in the team standings. The Rustlers won two relay races with wins in the 800 Freestyle Relay (6:50.96) and 400 Freestyle Relay (3:05.15). Golden West had one of the better individual performers in Avery Pellicano, who won both the 1,650 Freestyle (16:15.38) and 400 Individual Medley (4:05.02). Wyatt Mitchell also stood at the top of the podium in the 200 Freestyle when he touched the pad in 1:38.81.

Orange Coast finished with five individual titles, led by Kaua Mota. The sophomore won three events, including the 100 Butterfly (48.47), 100 Individual Medley (50.56) and 100 Freestyle (45.11). Jun Caruso chipped in with a win in the 200 Breaststroke (2:02.20) while Oscar Cruz was a winner in the 200 Butterfly (1:53.58).  

Cypress finished in fourth place at the meet and had one individual winner. Giovanni Demurowas a winner in the 50 Freestyle when he registered a time of 21.03.

Saddleback and Fullerton were both shut out of the winner's circle and finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Saddleback had a pair of fifth place finishes from Liam Mayer and a fifth-place finish from Tyler Kiklas. Fullerton's lone swimmer to earn points was Yoni Bautista.

Courtesy of Brad Hoiseth, Orange Empire Conference