Pirates wrap up state meet with runner-up team finish

LOS ANGELES -- The Orange Coast College women's swim team took on the best of the best this past weekend at the California Community College Athletic Association State Swimming and Diving Championships at East L.A. College.

Led by freshman standout Rebecca Aguilar's two state individual titles, the Pirates completed its stellar season with a runner-up team score of 399.5, edged out by team champion Santa Rosa (424.5). It's OCC's second consecutive runner-up finish and seventh consecutive top-five team performance, dating back to 2009.

Aguilar's memorable state finals were highlighted by two individual state titles, one relay title and three second-place performances and one third-place finish for the Pirates. In the 50-yard freestyle, Aguilar came off the blocks fast and out-reached Cuesta's Racheal Gruetzmacher at the wall for a championship-winning time of 23.71 seconds, just ahead of Gruetzmacher's time of 23.88.

In the 100 free, Aguilar trailed Diablo Valley's Laura Woods by .13 seconds at the turn, but came on strong to win the state title with a time of 51.26. Woods took the silver medal with a time of 51.3.

On Day 2 of the event, Aguilar joined Alexa Clayfield, Nacinda Paap and Kestlyn Hickey to claim the 200 medley relay title with a time of 1:46.47. Coast trailed in the race before a strong third leg by Aguilar (24.81) enabled Hickey to out-touch Santa Rosa at the wall. The Bear Cubs took second with a time of 1:46.55.

The quartet of Aguilar, Hickey, Clayfield and Chloe Kim early pulled off the state title in the 200 free relay, but the Pirates were edged by Diablo Valley and settled for second place with a time of 1:37.02.

Another near-miss took place at the 400 free relay, where Aguilar, Hickey, Paap and Clayfield pushed Diablo Valley to the wall, but settled for second place with a time of 3:32.29. DVC took the top spot with a 3:31.76.

In the 800 free relay, Paap, Hickey, Aguilar and Kim trailed by seven seconds after two legs before Aguilar turned on the jets and got the Pirates to within one second of the foursome from Golden West. But, in the end, the Rustlers outlasted the Pirates, who finished second with a time of 7:56.78.

Clayfield had herself a busy weekend as well, earning a pair of third-place performances in the 200 individual medley (2:10.72) and 100 backstroke (57.08) as well as a fourth-place time in the 200 backstroke (2:05.46).

Diver Candis Buck wrapped up her Coast career with a pair of third-place marks in the 1-meter event (197.90) and 3-meter dive (211.10).

In the 400 medley relay, Clayfield, Paap, Kim and Audrey Hung placed third overall with a time of 4:00.89.