Mt. SAC Men’s Swimming sweeps Bakersfield, Santa Monica; Yeh wins four events

Mt. SAC Men's Swim member at first home meet
Photo Courtesy of DavesSportsImage

(Walnut, CA) The Mt. SAC Men's Swim team is finally back in the pool at the Marie T. Mills Aquatics Center Friday (April 30) after 13 months.

After a non-scoring event on Friday (April 24), the Mounties hosted a double dual meet against Bakersfield (191-151) and Santa Monica (280-46) and came home with the two wins.

Bakersfield was 1-1 in the event, with a 237-63 win over winless Santa Monica (0-2).

Mt. SAC continues a streak of dual-meet wins over several years at the aquatics center.

"It was really fun," said Mt. SAC Men's Swimming coach Marc Ruh of the team finally getting to race again. "The kids got excited about it and they love racing and when they have a chance to race against other teams they love it.

"They all keep track of scores so they know what they have to do in their next race. It feels like normal again. It kind of made that whole last year disappear."

Mt. SAC took won 10 of the 16 individual events and won one of the three relays (200 Medley Relay) in the three-team event.

Swimmers for the Mounties competed in seven (5 individual, 2 relays) of the 19 events, which took place over a three-hour time span.

"It was a unique event that they got so many swims," Ruh said.

It was a long day for the swimmers, as they made the four-hour bus trip to San Luis Obispo and returned the same day after a long day of competition.

"We had a couple of kids that did a phenomenal job," Ruh added. "Matt Neoh, whose brother Alex swam for us a couple of years ago had some really strong swims (Friday). Matt did really well."

Neoh won two individual events (200 Backstroke, 100 Butterfly) and was part of the winning 200 Medley Relay team.

"Michael Yeh, who is a sophomore this year, is doing really well, along with Logan Morales and Connor Rias," he added."

Yeh, who took home the most individual firsts, won the 200 Individual Medley, 100 Back, 400 IM and 100 IM.

He also was second in the 200 Back and was also a part of the second-place 400 Free Relay team.

Mt. SAC may get to be part of the Western State Conference Championships but will find out at a later date if it is possible.

Other first place overall winners were: freshman Tate Cauley (500 Free), Rias (50 Back), Dominic Chacon (200 Breaststroke) and Morales (200 Fly).

"These kids know that they are really fortunate to be a part of Mt. SAC Athletics and are actually able to compete, where there is a lot of other schools that can't," Ruh said. "It's really been a blessing.

"I've never seen a group that has been as grateful to do anything as these guys."

The team has only been in the water practicing since the end of February.

Follow Mt. SAC Men's Swimming and Diving on Twitter @mtsacaquatics

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.