Monroe Leads VC Men to 2nd Place Team Finish

Pirate swimmer Jaiden Monroe won a pair of individual golds along with a silver, and anchored a winning relay team Saturday to help the VC men to a second place finish at the Western State Conference No. 2 meet at Los Angeles Valley. Thomas Shea won both diving events and was also on the gold medal-winning relay team. Olivia Badaracco won a pair of races to lead the Pirate women to a fourth place team finish of 10 teams.

Monroe touched in 51.41 to win the 100-yard butterfly and swam a 52.28 to claim the 100-yard backstroke races. He also finished second in the 200-yard backstroke. 

In the final race of the day, Monroe anchored the quartet that also included Jacob Otsuki, Parker Steen and Shea as they swam a 3:21.02 to win the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Shea also won the 1m diving event with a score of 153.75 and claimed the 3m diving at 168.85.

The VC men totaled 368.5 points to finish second of nine teams, only behind Cuesta's 586 points. LA Valley was third with 323 points.

Badaracco won the 200-yard backstroke in 2:15.30 and also claimed gold in the 100-yard back with a time of 1:01.84. She also swam third in the 50-yard freestyle.

Faith Marshall produced the Pirate women's other gold, winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:08.05.She also claimed silver in the 200-yard breaststroke and fifth in the 50-yard free.

VC's 400-yard freestyle relay team of Marshall, Ami Cruz, Avery Monson and Badaracco won bronze.

The Pirate women earned 317 points, well ahead of fifth place Bakersfield at 226 points. Santa Barbara, LA Valley and Cuesta were the top three women's teams with 10 teams competing. 

Other notable Pirate performers were as follows:

VC Men

Brayden Black; 500-yard freestyle, 7th; 200-yard freestyle, 5th; 100-yard freestyle, 8th
Matt Williams; 500-yard freestyle, 10th; 200-yard freestyle, 9th; 100-yard freestyle, 12th
Jose Lopez; 500-yard freestyle, 15th
Michael Ramirez; 100-yard Individual Medley, 6th; 100-yard breaststroke, 7th
Shane Speth; 100-yard Individual Medley, 7th (tie); 400-yard Individual Medley, 3rd
Otsuki; 50-yard freestyle, 6th; 200-yard freestyle, 7th; 100-yard freestyle, 2nd
Steen; 50-yard freestyle, 8th; 100-yard freestyle, 5th

VC Women

Alexandria Williams; 1m diving, 3rd; 3m diving, 4th
Cruz; 500-yard freestyle, 10th; 200-yard freestyle, 7th; 100-yard freestyle, 8th
Olivia Decierdo; 100-yard Individual Medley, 5th; 100-yard breaststroke, 3rd
Monson; 50-yard freestyle, 9th; 200-yard freestyle, 9th; 100-yard freestyle, 6th
Stevie Sturges; 50-yard freestyle, 14th; 100-yard breaststroke, 9th; 200-yard breaststroke, 10th
Abigail Humphrey; 200-yard freestyle, 10th; 00-yard freestyle, 12th