Bobcats third at OEC Finals

The Saddleback men's swim and dive team finished third at the Orange Empire Conference Finals on Saturday at Riverside City College.  Chase Campbell led the team with a win in the 1650 Freestyle.

Campbell (pictured) finished tied with teammate Jack Stevens with 48 individual points for the weekend as the Bobcats finished with 477 as a team. 

Campbell shaved 1:40.31 off of his seed time in finishing in 16:54.61 and winning the 1650 Freestyle by more than 20 seconds.  He also had a great time in the 400 Individual Medley when he finished third in a time of 4:15.00.  Campbell also had a seventh place finish in the 100 Backstroke (55.35).

Stevens had three finishes in the top-4 as he was second in the 200 Fly (1:55.14), third in the 100 Fly (50.94) and fourth in the 50 Freestyle (21.59).  His time in the 200 Fly is the sixth best time in program history and the best time since 1992.  His time in the 100 Fly ranks as the second fastest time in Saddleback history, trailing only Hirotaka Sugimoto (49.96, 2004).  His time in the 50 Freestyle ranks No. 7 all time in program history. 

Saddleback had four other top-5 finishes for the weekend turned in by Jacob Frailey, Neema Jabbour, Ryan Verzani and Carson Williams.  Frailey was second in the 3-meter diving (118.6) on Thursday while Jabbour was third in the same event (57.4).  Verzani finished fifth in the 100 Breaststroke (1:01.44) while Williams was fifth in the 100 Freestyle (47.72). 

Saddleback finished third in the 200 Medley Relay (1:36.63), 800 Freestyle Relay (7:12.86) and 400 Freestyle Relay (3:13.89).  The time in the 200 Medley Relay was just 0.33 seconds off the fastest time in program history (2009).

Saddleback will compete next at the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships on April 5 at East Los Angeles College.