Walnut, Calif. – The Mt. SAC Men's and Women's Swim and Dive Teams are excited to dive into the 2025 season. Men's Head Coach Marc Ruh is optimistic about the team's potential, despite losing some key swimmers from last year's group. "The men's team lost some really good swimmers after finishing third in the state, but we had a strong recruiting class," Ruh said. "We brought in some talented freshmen, replaced key pieces and even exceeded in other areas. I think we should do pretty well this year."
The men's team features a roster of approximately 30 athletes, while the women's team includes about 22 swimmers. "The women should be a top three contender in the state for the first time," Ruh noted. "They're doing well, and I can't wait to see how they perform."
The teams' strengths lie in their versatility and experience, with athletes excelling in multiple events. "We've got a couple of really good backstrokers, some fast freestyle sprinters, those that are good with distance and some talented in the butterfly," Ruh explained. "We're pretty balanced and I expect us to be solid all the way across the board."
Ruh is particularly excited about the team's divers, who have benefited from additional training opportunities this year. "For the first time, our divers trained through the fall, and I think they're going to be much better this season," he said. "I'm just looking forward to watching the kids swim fast, compete hard, and grow as a team. It's going to be really fun."
Coach Ruh emphasized the teams' work ethics and camaraderie as key factors in their success. "These are great kids who work hard in the classroom, the pool and the weight room," he said. "We train both the men and women together - everyone is getting along well and pushing each other to improve."
The men's team will aim to maintain its place among the state's top three programs. "The goal every year is that we want to try and win it, but depth will be a challenge," Ruh admitted. "We will probably take around 12 guys to the state meet, which is pretty good, but two of our biggest competitors, Sierra and Orange Coast, are always stacked, so it will be tough."
The teams will travel to compete against American River College in Sacramento for their first competition on Friday, January 31. "American River has a really good swim and dive program," Ruh commented. "We typically go head-to-head with them for that third spot in the state. So this is a good way to start the season, see where we stand and figure out what we need to work on before the championships."
Be sure to come support Mt. SAC Aquatics Program as they compete in swimming and diving this spring. Good luck, Mounties!
STAY CONNECTED:
Follow Mt. SAC Men's Swimming and Diving on twitter @mtsacaquatics or Instagram /mtsacaquatics/
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics Instagram /mtsac_athletics/ or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
Follow Mt. SAC Women's Swimming and Diving on twitter @MtSAC_W_Aquatic or Instagram /mt.sacwomensaquatics/
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics Instagram /mtsac_athletics/ or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.