Pirate Swimmers Dominate Relays in Strong Showing

Ventura College's men's and women's swimming and diving teams dominated the relays at the three-day Pasadena Invitational, wit the men running away with a first place finish and the women coming in a strong second in the team competition. Jaiden Monroe posted the fastest time this season in the state in winning the 100-yard backstroke and the men and women both won all five relays in their respective competitions.

Monroe touched in 50.74 in the 100-yard backstroke, the fastest mark in the state in 2025, to win the event by nearly six seconds. He also earned an individual gold in the 200-yard backstroke in 1:53.10, winning by an amazing 12 second margin. Brayden Black also earned gold for the Pirates in the 1m diving competition, posting a score of 145.05 in six dives. Meanwhile, Thomas Shea finished on the top step of the podium in the 3m diving event with a score of 132.0.

Nick Santander was second in the 50-yard freestyle and also earned silver in the 100-yard free. Shane Speth was second in the 400-yard individual medley while Luigi Travi was the runner-up in the 100-yard backstroke.

Shea added a silver in the 1m diving, a bronze in the 100-yard free and a fifth-place finish in the 50-yard free. Evan Augusta was third in the 1m and fourth in the 3m diving competitions, respectively. Ramon Rodriguez placed second in the 3m diving.

Michael Ramirez had a strong meet finishing third in the 200-yard backstroke, and fourth in the 200-yard IM and fifth in the 100-yard IM. Kyle Quach was fourth in both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke races. Michael Soho earned bronze in the 100-yard IM and placed fourth in the 100-yard breast stroke.

Monroe, Soho, Santander, and Shea posted a time of 1:27.20 in the 200-yard freestyle relay to earn gold while Santander, Travi, Shea and Monroe were first in the 400-yard medley relay in 3:47.74. Black, Ramirez, Santander and Monroe touched first n the 800-yard freestyle relay in 7:22.38 and Santander, Soho, Shea and Monroe claimed gold in the 200-yard medley relay in 1:39.36. The team of Travi, Ethan Ortiz, Ramirez and Boaz Biglin came in third in the 200-yard medley relay. Santander, Travi, Shea and Monroe finished the meet in first place in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:14.71.

VC's men scored 1046.5 points over the three days, 513 points ahead of second place Pasadena.

The Pirate women also won five relays over the three days. Carissa Clay, Sarah Glassman, Ava Carey and Olivia Badaracco turned in a time of 1:45.11 to win the 200-yard freestyle relay while Glassman, Stevie Sturges, Carey and Badaracco won the 400-yard medley relay in 4:23.28. Glassman, Ami Cruz, Carey and Badaracco touched in 8:45.70 for another gold in the 800-yard freestyle relay and Badaracco, Sturges, Carey and Clay won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:58.73. Finally, Glassman, Clay, Carey and Badaracco swam a 3:54.50 to win the 400-yard freestyle relay.

VC also earned four individual silver medals. Badaracco was second in the 50-yard freestyle and Carey finished as runner-up in the 400-yard IM. Cruz came in second in the 1650-yard freestyle and Glassman won silver in the 100-yard free.

Alex Williams was fourth in the 3m and fifth in the 1m diving events while Kayla Foster finished in fifth and sixth, respectively. 

Reese Bently earned a bronze in the 500-yard freestyle and Cruz was fourth in the same event. Sturges came in fourth in the 100-yard breast stroke and Bella Palacios was fourth in the 1650 free. Clay touched in fourth in the 100-yard free.

VC's women totaled 633.5 points overall, a close second behind El Camino's 664 points and far ahead of third place East Los Angeles at 248.

The Pirate divers will next compete at the Western State Conference and Southern California Regional diving championships on Friday and Saturday April 11 and 12. The teams will also compete at the WSC Championships in Santa Monica April 17-19.

(Left) The Pirate men's relay team of Thomas Shea, Nick Santander, Jaiden Monroe and Michael Soho won both the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard medley relays at the Pasadena Invitational. (Right) VC's Carissa Clay, Ava Carey, Olivia Badaracco and Stevie Sturges won the 200-yard medley relay at the Pasadena Invitational. Photos by Linda Wright