Vaqueros Win 9th Straight Conference Title with Slew of Inspiring Performances
By Jimmy Friery
VENTURA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Women's Swimming & Diving team won their 9th consecutive WSC championship this past weekend, scoring 854 points.
It was a celebratory mood for the Vaqueros the entirety of the three-day meet. Multiple school and conference records were broken, individual awards were given to athletes and coaches, and three swimmers celebrated birthdays.
To top it all off, SBCC outscored 2nd place LA Valley by over 300 points.
"I've been a part of a lot of amazing teams, but tonight was one of the most inspirational evenings I've had as a coach," head coach Chuckie Roth said on Saturday. "To watch our athletes overachieve again and again, conquer new heights, deal with adversity, and invest in each other—I'm a very proud coach."
Thursday, Day 1:
In event 1, the Vaqueros immediately showed their dominance. Erin Otsuki, Caroline Oates, Lily Carrick, and Maddie Myers broke the school record in the 200 Free Relay—and naturally, won the event—with a time of 1:38.82. Myers' split was a lightning quick 24.08. The 'B' relay of Lila Waechter, Sofia Paez, Addie Lane, and Kate Densmore were not far behind, having the third best time of 1:44.61.
The next event was the 500 Free. Carrick's school record time of 5:05.19 earned her 1st place, but Oates' second-in-school-history time of 5:07.32 was equally as inspiring. Down two body lengths from the 2nd place swimmer halfway through the race, Oates decreased her time in each of the last four 50 splits. It paid off—she finished 2nd, just .19 before the 3rd place swimmer.
"A truly gutsy swim that made several of her teammates cry," Roth said proudly.
The streak of inspirating performances continued into the very next event. In Thursday morning's prelims, the Vaqueros had Esther Sullivan try her shot in the 200 IM for the first time in her life.
"We thought it was a great way for her to earn a point or two for the team," Roth said. Sullivan would provide much more than a point or two.
After an 8th place tie at 2:38.03, a swim-off would decide who would compete in the finals later in the day. Swimmers who make the finals earn a minimum of 11 points. Sullivan took advantage of the opportunity, beating her opponent in the 1-v-1 race by 4 seconds.
"That was huge for our team and demonstrates the idea of team first," Roth continued. "Esther is a team player and makes us better. She has improved tremendously, worked hard, and deserves all her moments in the limelight."
SBCC capped off the day with a 1st place finish in the 400 Medley Relay, with Otsuki (Back), Myers (Breast), Waechter (Fly), and Oates (Free) bringing it home.
Friday, Day 2:
The second day of the championship weekend began similarly to the end of the first. Otsuki (Back), Waechter (Breast), Paez (Fly), and Carrick (Free) won the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 1:53.68.
Carrick then swam the 400 IM, winning in come-from-behind fashion at 4:32.83.
Later, SBCC swept the top 3 spots in the 200 Free, with Myers (1:54.45), Oates (1:56.17), and Lane (2:01.87) all medaling.
Another relay capped off the day, with the Vaqueros eyeing a 7:55 conference record in the 800 Free Relay. Lane-Oates-Carrick-Myers shattered it with a 7:50.79. Carrick's split of 1:55.18 was the quickest of the group.
Saturday, Day 3:
Hours away from defending their title of conference champion, the Vaqueros came out swinging. Oates obliterated the school record by 15 seconds in the 1650 Free, clocking in at a 1st place 17:45.34.
In the 200 Back, Otsuki, Tayten Neiderhiser, and Taylor Classen earned the team 48 combined points with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishes, respectively.
Next up was the 100 Free. Myers came from behind to break a school record, finishing 1st (52.34) and edging out Carrick's 3rd place finish (53.17).
The WSC championship well-secured, the final event was the 400 Free Relay, and the Vaqueros did not phone it in. Like the 800 Free Relay, they established a new conference record. Oates, Otsuki, Carrick, and Myers checked in with a 3:33.54, winning with nearly 14 seconds to spare.
854 points and a 9th straight conference championship later, head coach Chuckie Roth and assistant coach Paige Treloar-Ballard won WSC Coaches of the Year.
Morgan Cederholm also took home individual honors, titled WSC Most Outstanding Female Diver of the Year.
"I walked away feeling so proud of these young women," Roth concluded. "No one sees what they sacrifice and how hard they work. It's truly an honor to lead them into battle."
Roth will lead them into battle one last time this season at State Championships. After a weekend to recoup, the Vaqueros will compete for an even bigger title beginning Thursday, May 2.
1st place finishes:
200 Free Relay – Erin Otsuki-Caroline Oates-Lily Carrick-Maddie Myers (1:38.82)
500 Free – Lily Carrick (5:05.19)
400 Medley Relay – Erin Otsuki-Maddie Myers-Lila Waechter-Caroline Oates (4:08.17)
200 Medley Relay – Erin Otsuki-Lila Waechter-Sofia Paez-Lily Carrick (1:53.68)
400 IM – Lily Carrick (4:32.83)
200 Free – Maddie Myers (1:54.45)
800 Free Relay – Addie Lane-Caroline Oates-Lily Carrick-Maddie Myers (7:50.79)
1650 Free – Caroline Oates (17:45.34)
100 Free – Maddie Myers (52.34)
400 Free Relay – Caroline Oates-Erin Otsuki-Lily Carrick-Maddie Myers (3:33.54)
2nd place finishes:
500 Free – Caroline Oates (5:07.32)
200 Free – Caroline Oates (1:56.17)
100 Back – Erin Otsuki (59.66)
200 Back – Erin Otsuki (2:09.09)
3rd place finishes:
200 Free Relay – Lila Waechter-Sofia Paez-Addie Lane-Kate Densmore (1:44.61)
200 IM – Tayten Neiderhiser (2:17.81)
50 Free – Maddie Myers (24.80)
100 Fly – Lila Waechter (1:05.08)
200 Free – Addie Lane (2:01.87)
1650 Free – Addie Lane (18:59.74)
200 Back – Tayten Neiderhiser (2:16.87)
100 Free – Lily Carrick (53.17)
Team scores:
1. SBCC (854)
2. LA Valley (550)
3. Santa Monica (380)
4. Ventura (375)
5. Hancock (325)
6. Citrus (294)
7. Pierce (251)
8. Bakersfield (149)
9. Cuesta (145)
10. Canyons (116)
