(Livermore, CA) The 2024 Mt. SAC Men's Swimming program had a successful start to the season with two wins over Los Positas and American River Colleges on Friday, January 26.

The Mounties, with 22 swimmers competing, defeated American River, 169-79, and Los Positas, 151-93.

"Both the men and women went 2-0 on the day against two very good programs," Mt. SAC Swim director Marc Ruh said. "The kids all raced very well. The meet was everything we could have hoped for three weeks into the season. 

"Getting that kind of experience (travel, racing, pressure etc...) this early in the season is really important to us."

Mt. SAC won eight of the 12 events (three relays, five individuals), which saw 52 swimmers from the three schools compete.

Leading the way were sophomore Eric Yeh and freshman Ray Chun with two wins each.

Yeh won the 100 Backstroke (55.26) and 100 Individual Medley (55.14) and placed second in the 200 IM. He also was part of two of the three first-place relay wins.

Chun finished first in the 100 Free (51.00) and the 50 Free (21.91) and was on all three relay teams. The other individual winner was sophomore Jason Matsuda in the 100 Butterfly (55.00). Matsuda, whose sister Jasmine finished third in the 100 Fly, finished third in the 500 Free.

Sophomore distance swimmer Samuel Slezak took seconds in the 200 and 500 Free events.

Also finishing in the runner-up position were Alex Chavez (100 Fly), Cael Henderson (100 Free), Luke Pedroche (100 Back), and Markus Stegbuchner (100 Breast).

"We saw great performances from our sophomores - Eric Yeh, Markus Stegbuchner, Samuel Slezak, Jason Matsuda, but also some great performances from some of our freshmen - Ray Chun, Luke Pedroche, Matthew Leeworthy, Justin Jones, Cael Henderson, Eric Yeh and Aidan Gillooly," added Ruh.

The Mounties compete next in the South Coast Conference Penthalon at El Camino College on Friday, February 9.