VC Swimmers 4th, 6th at WSC #2 in SLO

The VC women's and men's swimming and diving teams finished fourth and sixth, respectively, at the second Western State Conference meet of the season at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo Saturday. Lauren Pierce claimed gold in the 1m diving and Allison Harris won the 3m diving for the women while Michael Andrews led the Pirate men winning both the 1m and 3m diving events.

The Pirate women dominated the diving competition. Pierce won the 1m event with a total score of 170.85 followed by Harris and Analee Magana in second and third. Harris, meanwhile posted a score of 146.55 in the 3m competition to win gold followed by Pierce with the silver.

The Ventura women scored 169 points to finish fourth of the nine participating schools. Santa Barbara won the meet with 412 points followed by Bakersfield (246), Cuesta (203) and VC. LA Valley was fifth with 163 points.

The women's 400-yard freestyle relay team of Shelby Jackson, Stephany Dijar, Nicole Hoare, Megan Findlay came in fourth while Dijar touched fifth in the 200-yard breast stroke.

Findlay earned points in sixth place in the 200-yard butterfly while Jackson and Hoare finished eighth and 11th, respectively, in the 200-yard backstroke. Pierce also came in 13th in the 50-yard freestyle.

On the men's side, Ventura's strong events were also in diving. Andrews claimed gold in the 1m event with a score of 175.95 and also won the 3m event at 151.50. Mattia Braccini won silver in both the 1m and 3m diving events.

Colin Spargur continued his strong season with a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle and was also part of two relay teams. The 400-yard freestyle relay of Zane Hermann, Brayden Lauritzen, Braccini, and Spargur won bronze and the 400-yard medley relay of Spargur, Lauritzen, Braccini and Hermann finished fourth.

Hermann also had a strong finish in the 100-yard free claiming a silver medal. Meanwhile, Lauritzen earned points in the 200-yard breast stroke finishing 16th.

Nathan Willeford came in 11th in the 400-yard individual medley and George Bonilla was 14th in the 200-yard backstroke.

The Pirates next host the WSC No. 3 competition on Friday April 1 at the Ventura Aquatic Center. Races are set to begin at 11:00 am.