Pirates open 2014 with OEC wins over Saddleback, Fullerton
MISSION VIEJO -- The Orange Coast College men's swim team took to the pool on Friday and came out a winner during an Orange Empire Conference tri-meet at Saddleback College against the host Gauchos and Fullerton College Hornets.
With a dominant performance across both teams, the Pirate men topped Saddleback, 158-44 and Fullerton, 166-36.
Coast won all 11 events and posted several 1-2 and 1-2-3 finishes as well.
One 1-2-3 finish came in the 1,000-yard freestyle, where Tyler Bernardin touched the wall first with a time of 11 minutes, 2.18 seconds, followed closely by OCC teammates Eric Lindsey (11:09.47) and Shane Salo (11:15.68).
It was more of the same in the 200 free as OCC's Cole Othmer won with a time of 1:48.31, followed teammates Tim Polman (1:50.97) and Clay Arnold (1:52.38). Othmer would also win the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:01.73.
In the 50 free, Sean Richards (21.83), Collin Latham (22.01) and Travis Hone (22.45) made it a Pirate trifecta in that event as well.
Kasey Foley touched the wall first in the 200 individual medley for the Pirates with a time of 2:04.9. Foley also took the top spot in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:04.16.
In the 100 free, the top spot went to Dylan Bburns with a time of 49.11, while in the 500 free, Gavin Wright topped the list with a 5:07.41.
Garrett Glore won the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:16.9 and both of OCC's relay teams -- the 400 medley relay and 400 free relay -- each cruised to victories.
OCC will return to competition on Friday, Feb. 28 in another OEC tri-meet -- this time at Golden West College against the Rustlers and Santa Ana College Dons -- beginning at 1 p.m.
