COMMUNITY COLLEGE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS : Orange Coast Men, Women Take Big Leads

CYPRESS —  The Orange Coast men’s and women’s swimming teams are in prime position to win titles after strong performances at the State championships Friday at Cypress College.

The OCC women got individual victories from Deborah Baham in the 200 individual medley and Brandi Kossub in the 50 backstroke and won the 400 freestyle relay and have 393 points Friday in the meet at Cypress College.

Saddleback (164) is second, Cuesta (132) third and Golden West (125.5) fourth.

The Pirates, under Coach Don Watson, have won five consecutive titles and nine in the last 10 years.

The OCC men are in first with 386 points. The Pirates won titles in 1991 and 1992. Golden West, the defending champion, is second with 302 points. Long Beach (236) is third and Cuesta (217) fourth.

“We’re in a very positive position,” Watson said of both teams. “The girls are just swimming out of their minds.”

Orange Coast’s victory in the 400 relay victory came in an intense showdown with Saddleback. Both teams swam season bests and OCC won with a time of 3 minutes 38.27 seconds. Saddleback was second in 3:38.83.

OCC’s Brandi Kossub swam the first 100 yards in 54.44, giving the Pirates a lead they never relinquished. Orange Coast’s Erika Aardal swam second, Baham third and Michelle Pereira closed out the victory as Saddleback’s Emilie Paylovich tried to catch up. Alisa Burden, Jennifer Greenfield, and Kristine Palle swam the first three legs for Saddleback.

“That was a great race,” Watson said. “You could see that one coming all year long. All eight girls involved are very classic. It was neat to see the sportsmanship afterward.”

Kossub was chasing her national record of 27.34 in the 50 backstroke set last year in the State meet, but fell just short. She won the race in 27.66. Erin Snow (28.74) of Orange Coast was second in the race and Saddleback’s Burden (28.75) third.

Baham won the 200 individual medley in 2:12.31 and Fullerton’s Roxanne Sota (2:14.06) was third.

The OCC men got victories from Matthias Otte in the 100 butterfly and Grant Ferguson in the 100 breaststroke. Otte won in 50.13, passing DeAnza’s Dave Mosher (50.42) in the final 25 yards. Ferguson won in 56.06 and teammate Jim Emmons (57.43) was second.

OCC, Golden West and Long Beach figured to battle for the men’s 800 freestyle relay.

But mistakes by OCC and Golden West swimmers, who each miscounted laps and paused before continuing, allowed Long Beach to win in 6:59.36. Golden West (7.00.08) was second and Orange Coast (7:01.43) third.