Men’s and Women’s swimming preview: Olympic coach brings new life

to OCC

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - A new day has begun, so to speak, for the men’s and

women’s swimming teams at Orange Coast College.

The freshness comes from first-year Coach Dave Salo.

Salo is also the head coach of Irvine Novaquatics, one of the top

swimming clubs in the nation. And, he was on the United States staff for

the 2000 Olympics in Australia where the Americans led all countries in

swimming with 33 medals, including 14 gold medals.

“Our long-term goal is to be best in the state,” Salo said of the

Pirates, who have not won a women’s state title since 1997. The men last

won the top honor in 1994. The women were state champions 1989-95.

Salo said he also wants to challenge for the Orange Empire Conference

title. He realizes Golden West is the favorite and says the OCC women

have a “shot” at the Rustlers in the dual matchup March 14.

Salo would also like to maintain OCC’s tradition of concentration on

academics, a tradition started by Don Watson, the longtime OCC head coach

(1981-97). This season, Watson returns as an assistant. Women’s water

polo coach Mike Giles will also work as an assistant.

Watson and Giles will team in the fall to coach women’s water polo.

Last year’s swimming coach, Chris Oeding, is now coaching at Long Beach

City College.

Salo said he came to Coast because the position offered another

challenge.

“It certainly wasn’t for trying to get into the college ranks,” Salo

said of his attraction to OCC. “There has been a strong tradition here

and I thought I could maybe continue with that. OCC is a different

challenge (than Novaquatics), but I’m putting out the same effort for

both. I just don’t sleep as much.”

Perhaps, his rest has come easier because of hopefuls such as

freestyler Laurell Rewszinski. Salo says the sophomore has a great chance

to be a factor in state competition. Freshman Shannon Flahive, who was a

redshirt for Texas A&M; last year, is another sophomore who will boost the

women’s hopes this season.

For the men’s team, Tjarco Koppenaal, a freshman from Holland, has

been coming along very well, Salo said. And, Tyler Townsend, who now

trains with the Novas in Irvine, should be a force at the state level.

This weekend, the Pirates will compete in the Mt. San Antonio

Invitational to prepare for the Orange Empire Conference competition.

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE WOMEN’S SWIMMING 2001

Megan Bowers Fr.

Daylene Coberly Fr.

Kristin Day So.

Deanna Espinosa So.

Neisha Hoagland Fr.

Tracy Maddox So.

Tia Montalvo Fr.

Heather Pappas Fr.

Laurelle Rzeszewski So.

Katie Sackett Fr.

Devon Wright Fr.

Coach: Dave Salo

Assistants: Don Watson and Mike Giles

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE MEN’S SWIMMING 2001

Jason Aigner Fr.

Jason Bandaruk Fr.

Danny Ciecek Fr.

David Collier Fr.

John Deakers So.

Geraldo Ferreira So.

Luis Gonzalez Fr.

Sergio Gonzalez So.

Kyle Gorham Fr.

Tjarco Koppenaal Fr.

Chris Lancellotti So.

Tyson Mangham Fr.

Enrique Maya Fr.

Jeff Sample Fr.

Tyler Townsend Fr.

Jack Yarbrough Fr.

Coach: Dave Salo

Assistants: Don Watson and Mike Giles