Eight Vaqueros qualify for State Championships

Eight SBCC swimmers have qualified for the 69th annual CCCAA Swimming and Diving State Championships, which will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday at East L.A. College.

Addison Seale tops the list, having qualified in three events (100 breast, 200 breast and 200 IM) as well as multiple relays. She was the named the WSC co-Swimmer of the Year two weeks ago after winning three races and swimming on four victorious relays as the Vaqueros notched their second straight conference title.

Other qualifiers for the Vaqueros are Kristina Hill (200, 500, 1650 freestyle, relays); Kendra Carr (50, 100 free, relays); Reese Ellestad (50, 100 free, 100 back, relays); Haley Crowley (100, 200 breast, relays); Alex Humann (100, 200 free, 100 butterfly), Mackenzie Richards (relays) and Halie Johnson (relays).

"This is the largest group we've ever had at the State championships and we're looking to improve on last year's finish," said coach Chuckie Roth.

This is the third year for the Vaquero swim team and they've finished 12th and 8th in State the last two years. Rachelle Visser won the school's first two individual state titles last year in the 200 IM and 400 IM, setting a State record in the latter event (4:31.73).

East L.A. is known as a fast pool with 41 State records being set in the past five years.

Roth feels his team could crack the top five in the State. The Vaqueros set a school record by going 41-1 in dual meets this year.

"I scored the meet and we could finish fifth," said Roth. "I thought we might have four individual qualifiers for State and we have six. We have all five of our relays seeded in the top eight. We've only made one relay final in the State meet and we're hoping to raise that number.

"We're sitting at fifth (in his meet breakdown) but we're only 25 points out of third, so we're going to try to motivate all our swimmers. It's been a magical season."

Prelims will take place at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m. on the first two days.