Swim team wraps up season

The swim team heated up the waters at the Western State Conference Championships as the men’s finished in fifth place while the women’s finished seventh out of eight teams. Although the swim team did better last season, still the Owls feel positive about the 2010 season.

“I’m really proud of us this year,” swimmer Brittany Orduno said. “We all really bonded this year as teammates and friends. I think that what really made the difference in the water.”

The swim team opened the season at Santa Clarita and hosted by the College of Canyons. The Owls had a strong start as Jordan Rivas took the first place in the 100-yard Freestyle (49.81) and second place at 200-yard Free. For the women, Sara Valiferdowsi, finished second in the 200-yard indivdual medley (2:29.30) and also with the 500-yard free (5:46.04).

At the Mt. San Antonio Invitational, the Owls had the most of their success in freestyle events. Valiferdowsi took the seventh place at the 1650 freestyle event (19:49.57). Also she beat her previous record of 5:46.17 to 5:40.17 in the 500-free. Brittany Orduno finished 13th in the 100-meter buttterfly with a time of 37.70. 

As for the men, Rivas again showed his speed as he finished 13th out of 127 swimmers in 50-yard freestyle (22.75) and finished tenth out of the 109 swimmers in 100-yard freestyle (50.41)

On March 5, the men impressively won against the Santa Monica College Corsairs with 174 points as opposed to 64, but women lost by 30 points against.

During the meet at the LA Pierce College the Men Owls finished second place at the WSC Quad 4 scoring 48 points. Rivas finished first in the 100-yard Freestyle (49.09) and took the second place in the 200-yard (1:54.99) with PJ Bisterfeldt who took the second place in 50-yard (23.63). On the other hand Andrew Gallegos had his best race of the season took first place in the 200-yard Butterfly (2:16.57). Although, the woman finished last, Valiferdowsi took second place in the 1000-yard Freestyle (11:59.59) and finished third in the 500-yard (5:44.53). Orduno took fourth place in the 100- yard butterfly (1:10.18) and fifth place in the 50-yard free (27.73).

In the WSC Quad 3 was hosted by Ventura College, both the Citrus men and women finished in third. Valiferdowsi had her best times of the year in the 1000-yard free (11:43) where she finished second and 500-yard free with the time of 5.38.78.

Orduno also had her personal best when she finished fourth in the 100 fly with the time of 1:1901. Jennifer Diaz also had her best time in the 200-yard Individual Medley (2:38.71).

On the men’s side, Rivas took second place in the 100-yard free with the time of 49.23.

In the Citrus Invitational, Rivas was the star of the day April 3 as he finished first in the relay events. The Owls scored 449 in which they win against Pasadena by 51points.

The individual events was lead by Rivas again who finished first in the 50-yard free (22.27) and second place in the 100-yard fly (56.16). Nathan Fernandez took second in the 100-yard Breast (1:05.77), and Jesus Zuniga finished third at 100-yard backstorke (1:16.02).

 The women had a total points of 368. Valiferdowsi finished first in the 100-yard IM (1:08.96). Orduno finished second place twice in the 100-yard IM (1:09.94) and in the 50-yard fly (29.72) where she finished third. In the 50-yard backstroke, Laura Schonland finished second with the time of 34.91 while Sharon Bright finished behind Schonland with the time of 35.93.

Again the Owls hosted the WSC event on April 9. The diving team played a major role in catching up the Owls points as Blake Margett and Dylan Rudy earned 14 points each for the events. The Owls finished in second place.

Rivas closed the season by placing third in the 100-yard free with the time of 47.58 and also, he finished fifth the 50-yard free with the time of 22.15. Joining him in the 200-free relay was Greg Yokomizo, Bistefeldt and Gallegos in fourth place. Rudy took the first place in the 3 meter diving portion.
Valiferdowsi and Orduno again were the leading swimmers in the women’s side. Valiferdowsi finished fourth place in the 100-yard IM (1:06.76) and in the 1650 free, she finished fifth (19:11.61), while Orduno took sixth place in the 100-yard fly (1:03.95).

“A lot of people had their personal best,” said swimmer Stefano Vincent Saltalamacchia. “The team was made up of different people with different walks in life, and that makes it more successful.”