Golden West Wins Two State Swim Titles

Golden West completed a dominating weekend performance Saturday as the Rustlers won the men’s and women’s titles at the state community college swimming and diving championships at East Los Angeles College.

The Golden West teams broke five national records and 11 state records in the three-day meet. The Rustler women scored 656 points, safely ahead of second-place Saddleback (432) and third-place Diablo Valley (426), to earn a second consecutive team title. Saddleback secured second place in the final event of the meet, finishing one spot ahead of Diablo Valley in the 400 freestyle relay.

On the men’s side, Golden West had 658 points to finish well ahead of runner-up Diablo Valley (456) and third-place Ventura (401). The Rustlers have won six consecutive men’s team titles.

Christian Harcsas of Golden West broke a national record in the 200-yard backstroke (1 minute 46.14 seconds) Saturday, adding to his earlier victories in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley. Harcsas was also a member of four winning relay teams, including the 400 freestyle team, which set a state record (3:01.95).

Derek Gibb of Golden West was also part of the record-breaking relay and added a victory in the 100 freestyle (44.96). Other winners on the final day of competition were Golden West’s Peter Darnowski in the 200 butterfly (1:55.02) and Saddleback’s Steven Poling in the 200 breaststroke (2:03.87).

Golden West’s Kirsten Rich set a state record in the 100 freestyle (51.59) Saturday, adding to her victories in the 50 butterfly and four winning relay teams. All four relay teams set state records and three set national marks.

Other winners were Golden West’s Micha Burden in the 1,650 freestyle (17:26.19) and Saddleback’s Tiffany Bradford in the one-meter and three-meter diving competition.

In Orange Empire Conference baseball:

Fullerton 9, Riverside 7--Corey Robles hit a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth for the Hornets (19-23, 9-15). Riverside (31-11, 15-9) led, 7-3, before Fullerton scored twice in the eighth. Eddie Romprey had three hits and reliever Jon Paul Glascock (1-0) earned the victory.

Golden West 7, Orange Coast 0--Todd Gelatka pitched a four-hitter with 14 strikeouts for host Golden West (21-20, 10-14). Phil Archer hit a first-inning, three-run home run and Nick German hit a two-run single in the eighth for Golden West.

Saddleback 13, Cypress 6--After losing a 6-0 lead, the Gauchos rallied with a two-run fifth on a fielder’s choice and Kyle Pierson’s RBI single. Ray Aguilar (9-2) took the loss for Cypress (32-10, 15-9).