For the first time in SRJC’s history, the men’s Swim and Dive team are CCCAA State Champions. They have ranked top four in California since 2008, but all year long, they knew 2012 would be their year to bring home the gold.
The Bear Cubs were setting records all season, starting with Nicholas Suissa at the NorCal Relays and ending with them crushing the state record in the 200-yard Medley Relay by Sean Malley, John Bing, Trent Williams, Nolan Stimple at the CCCAA State Championships. The “Fearless Four,” (Malley, Bing, Williams, Stimple) had no problem shattering the 14-year-old record (1:32.12) set by Golden West in 1998 by 2.13 seconds, with a new state record time of 1:29.99.
Winning four of five relays in the CCCAA State Championships was huge for the men’s team, as they broke state records and finally came out on top. Head coach, Jill McCormick said Ventura and Orange Coast are their biggest competitors, yet the Bear Cubs destroyed both schools with their 808 total points compared to 2nd place Orange Coast who tallied 716.5 points and third place Ventura who scrounged up 616.5 points. The men racked in an astonishing 602 points themselves, conquering the trailing school: Palomar 408, Orange Coast 283, and Ventura with a limp 276 points.
When asked about breaking his first record this season, Suissa said he was focused on breaking and setting a record at the State Championships, which he did in the 1-meter dive. This record was established in 2011 by American River’s Eddie Kollar with 285.20 points and Suissa now holds the record with 286.60 points, according to the CCCAA Sports Information records.
During the 2012 season, the Men’s team took first place at every event, relay or invitational and earned the Big Eight Conference Championships for the second year in a row, their fourth time in five years. They broke 10 records in their undefeated 2012 season.
Head coach, Jill McCormick, again won Big Eight Conference Coach of the Year and CA College Coach of the Year, definitely not the first time she’s be awarded with these honors.
The Women’s team took 7th place at the CCCAA State Championships where freshman stand-out, Alexandria Holland broke two records, the 100 meter Fly and the 100 meter Individual Medley and was named Co-Female Swimmer of the Year for winning all three of her events. The women have once again made a name for themselves as a top 10 ranked team in the state finish for the ninth year in a row.
For more details on the State Championships and quotes from the team and coaches, check out the upcoming issue of The Oak Leaf News coming out on May 14th.
