Gauchos open third at GWC Invite

The Saddleback men's swimming team opened the season with a third place finish at Golden West Invitational on Friday in Huntington Beach.  Nine different Gauchos picked up points at the meet.

Saddleback was third out of the 10 programs at the meet, finishing with 237 points.  The Gauchos were just 32 points back of second place Riverside City College in a meet won by Golden West College.

Matthew Mulfinger led the charge for Saddleback, finishing in the top four in three separate events.  Mulfinger won the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:11.20 before finishing fourth in both the 100 backstroke (1:00.90) and the 50 backstroke (28.45).

Another having a big meet was Carson Williams, who had three top-5 finishes.  Williams' best finish was second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 58.99.  He was also fourth in the 50 fly (26.33) and fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:19.15). 

Yughe Bista had three top-6 finishes for Saddleback.  Bista was fourth in the 200 individual medley (2:13.89), fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.45) and sixth in the 100 backstroke (1:01.97).

Ramy Bishay had a sensational performance in the 100 breaststroke, finishing second with a time of 1:06.47.  Bishay also finished fifth in the 50 breaststroke (29.60).

Others with finishes in the top-6 in their event included Andrew Carter, Nick Deloney, Riley Herbert and Keaton Ota.  Carter was fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.19).  Deloney was fifth in the 100 fly (56.95).  Herbert was sixth in the 500 freestyle (5:20.24).  Ota was sixth in the 200 individual medley (2:15.74).

David Breen was the final Saddleback swimmer to earn points for the team, finishing eighth in the 500 freestyle (5:27.00).