Pirates open swim season strong with wins over Hornets, Gauchos

MISSION VIEJO -- The Orange Coast College women's swim team made things look easy as the Pirates opened the 2014 season with dominant wins over Saddleback and Fullerton in an Orange Empire Conference tri-meet on Friday at Saddleback College.

With victories in all but two events, the Pirates cruised to a 216-59 win over Saddleback and a 210-60 victory over Fullerton.

Standout diver Rae Adams won both the 3-meter diving event (228.10 points) and the 1-meter event (196.60 points).

In the 200-yard medley relay, it was a 1-2-3 finish for the Pirates, led by Layla Jahanshahi, who touched the wall first with a time of 2 minutes, 20.19 seconds. She was followed close behind by teammates Sophie Shiba (2:22.32) and Vivianne Mai (2:25.2). Shiba would find the top of the podium in the 100 backstroke with a winning time of 1:03.21, followed by Coast teammates Ye Ro Han (1:07.27) and Audrey Hung (1:08.11). Shiba also won the 50 backstroke with a time of 30.07.

Claire Aguilar edged out the rest of the field in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.74, while teammate Jacqueline Whitehead took the top spot in the 200 free (2:04.61). Aguilar would also find similar success in the 100 IM with a time of 1:04.64.

Chloe Kim led the way in the 50 butterfly (28.16), followed by teammates Ashley Demont (29.58) and Lauren Felmeier (29.76). Kim also took home the gold in the 100 butterfly with a 1:02.63, edging out Demont (1:06.76) and Felmeier (1:07.71) once again.

The 1-2-3 finishes continued throughout the day as Kellie Thorsness (56.64), Kaitlyn Finney (57.66) and Whitehead (58.01) took the top-three spots in the 100 free.

Mai would find her success in the 50 breaststroke, topping the field with a time of 32.88.

In addition to the individual success, both of OCC's relay teams -- the 200 medley and 200 free relays -- came home with victories.

Coast will return to competition on Friday, Feb. 28 against Golden West and Santa Ana (at GWC), beginning at 1 p.m.