2016 Men's and Women's SCC Champions
Posted: Apr 29, 2016
By John M. Sherrard
(Norwalk, CA) After sweeping both the men's and women's titles in the South Coast Conference finals this past weekend, Mt. SAC will send 13 swimmers and one diver to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships May 5-7, at East Los Angeles College.
The Mountie Men will have nine men, which includes four relay teams and a diver, while the women will have four women, with one relay team.
Prelims will begin each day at 9:30 am and finals will start at 5:00 pm on Thursday and Friday and 4:00pm on Saturday.
"It is an extremely fast year, statewide," Mt. SAC Men's coach Marc Ruh said. "We are very excited to have our relays and individuals qualified for the meet.
"We have a good mix of freshmen and sophomores and are looking for them to do very well."
Three sophomores will be making a return trip to the finals: SCC 2016 "Swimmer of the Year" Phillip Wright (Pacific Coast HS), Shania Fontanilla (Roosevelt HS) and Nicole Phan (Walnut HS).
"When I go to state I want to drop some serious time," Wright said. "I want to win state."
In last years' 1650 Wright finished second with a time of 16:09.98. This year he swam a state-leading time of 16:05.20 at the SCC championships.
Wright also swam in the 400 IM and 500 Free last year, finishing second and fourth respectively.
"Phillip had a great meet last year," Ruh added. "We are anxious to see what he can do at this years' meet. His training has been going very well.
"Phillip is truly a special young man and there is no telling what he is capable of doing."
In the individual events for the men, Wright, who will compete in three events, will swim the 500 yard freestyle, 400 IM and the 1650 (mile); Kyle Chang (West Covina HS), will also race in three events: 200 free, 200 IM and the 200 backstroke and Esteban Martinez (Walnut HS) is the lone representative in the 1 meter and 3 meter diving. Martinez placed third in the event at the SCC championships.
For the women, Fontanilla, who swam in two relays last year in the championships, will enter the 1650 free, 400 IM and the 200 butterfly.
Making her first state championship appearance is SCC record-holder Kaitlyn Dickinson (Chino Hills HS). Dickinson, who set the record in the 200 yard butterfly, will also enter three races: 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 fly.
The Mt. SAC women will send one relay team (800 free) to the ELAC championships. In addition to Fontanilla and Dickinson, state returnee Phan and sophomore Brittany Anderson (San Dimas HS) will make up the team. Phan competed in two relays in last years' CCCAA championships.
The men will be busy as four teams will represent Mt. SAC at the championships.
Wright and Chang will swim in all four relays which are: 200 Freestyle (Wright, Chang, freshman Ashcon Dejbakhsh (Walnut HS) and sophomore Jacob Rehrer (Chino Hills HS); 400 Free (Wright, Chang, freshman Renen Devito (Glendora HS) and Dejbakhsh); 800 Free (Wright, Chang, Devito and freshman Isaiah Robertson (Walnut HS); 400 Medley Relay (Wright, Chang, freshman Bryan Calderon (La Puente HS) and sophomore Greg White (Diamond Bar HS).
For more information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.