Swimming to State Championships
Santa Monica College swim team (SMC) swimming team, practicing for State Championship in San Jose. Santa Monica College on April 29, 2019, Santa Monica, Calif. (Yasamin Jtehrani / The Corsair)
Sana Shoket from Santa Monica College (SMC) swimming team, practicing for State Championship in San Jose. Santa Monica College on April 29, 2019, Santa Monica, Calif. (Yasamin Jtehrani / The Corsair)
Alonso Escobedo from Santa Monica College (SMC) swimming team, practicing for State Championship in San Jose. Santa Monica College on April 29, 2019, Santa Monica, Calif. (Yasamin Jtehrani / The Corsair)
Santa Monica College's (SMC) Men's Swimming team won the Western Conference championship on Saturday, April 20 at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center in Santa Clarita, California. SMC finished with 710.5 points, while Ventura College scored 621 points. This is the Corsairs' first conference championship since 1990.
The Men's team won nine individual events and three relays. Matt Holt, who won both the 500-yard freestyle and the 1650-yard freestyle, was awarded Swimmer of the Meet. Head Coach Brian Eskridge was also chosen as Western State Conference Coach of the Year.
The Women's team won fourth place, improving from last year's seventh place finish.
State Championships will take place this weekend, from May 2 to May 4. Six individuals and all five relays qualified on the men's side, while three individuals and four relays qualified on the women's side.
Along with serving as a hub of aquatic activity for the surrounding community, the Santa Monica Swim Center hosts the Santa Monica College Swim team, fresh off their Western State Conference Championship win. Though the team will be away this upcoming weekend at the state championships, hosted by De Anza College, the pool will undoubtedly continue to be lively and filled in their absence. April 30, 2019, Santa Monica, California. Danica Creahan / The Corsair
Alonso Escobedo from Santa Monica College (SMC) swimming team, practicing for State Championship in San Jose. Santa Monica College on April 29, 2019, Santa Monica, Calif. (Yasamin Jtehrani / The Corsair)
SMC's Head Coach Brian Eskridge, recently awarded Western State Conference Coach of the Year. “it's voted on by the coaches so to have them really see what our program is doing and kind of where we're getting to, it's a really good feeling. We know what we've been doing, but to have see that and recognize it, it feels really good, and it feels really good for the kids.” April 30, 2019. Santa Monica, California. Danica Creahan / The Corsair
Sana Shoket from Santa Monica College (SMC) swimming team, practicing for State Championship in San Jose. Santa Monica College on April 29, 2019, Santa Monica, Calif. (Yasamin Jtehrani / The Corsair)
Sana Shoket from Santa Monica College (SMC) swimming team, practicing for State Championship in San Jose. Santa Monica College on April 29, 2019, Santa Monica, Calif. (Yasamin Jtehrani / The Corsair)
SMC's Head Coach Brian Eskridge, at Santa Monica Swim Center, where his recent championship winning team practices. “we were so close last year, so it was kind of heartbreaking, and a lot of guys came back really ready to go and work hard, but then we had a lot of success early, so it was just a matter of keeping everybody on task, on focus, make sure everyone was working as hard as they should, which they did, and we were able to get that done.” April 30, 2019. Santa Monica, California. Danica Creahan / The Corsair