Pirates sweep conference swimming championships

MISSION VIEJO — Orange Coast College won both the men’s and women’s swimming titles at the Orange Empire Conference Championships which concluded Saturday at Saddleback College.

The OCC men scored 819.5 points to easily outdistance the conference competition. Golden West was second with 617 points and Saddleback finished third with 454.

In the women’s competition, the final tally was much closer as the Pirates (680.5 points) held off a late charge by Riverside (653). Saddleback was third with 582.

Orange Coast swept all of the awards on the men’s side as Greg Hulse was named Swimmer of the Year, Jonathan Franzen was named Diver of the Year, and Anthony Iacopetti was named Coach of the Year.

Hulse won the 50-yard freestyle on Thursday, the 100 butterfly on Friday, and the 100 freestyle on Saturday.

OCC’s Nikki Burrelli was named conference’s Diver of the Year.

— From staff reports