Posted: Apr 25, 2023
Las Positas men first, women second at Coast Conference Championships
By Matt Schwab
Teamwork paid off brilliantly for the Las Positas College Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving squads at the 2023 Coast Conference Championships in Fremont.
The Hawks men's team finished first, and are now tied with the LPC women with six Coast Conference titles. The LPC women finished second behind West Valley this time.
Hawks head coach Jason Craighead had high praise for both LPC teams.
"In general, every individual on both teams was able to score points and contribute to our successes," Craighead said. "That is something difficult to do, have everyone score in at least one event, but has been a huge part of our success over the years: Identifying individual skills, preparation, and helping our athletes do something well outside their comfort zone."
Entries for the State Championship at East Los Angeles Community College (May 4-6) were announced Monday, April 24.
On the women's side, Las Positas had some outstanding swims and performances, but the Hawks were too small in numbers to score more points.
Ashley Sand, Samantha Dorn, and Sarah Thompson, the team's core group, scored big points, but the other Hawks also performed "really well" and moved up a lot of places to contribute as well, the coach said.
"Jayme Helm, Haley Jelonic, Isabella Arguello, and Maddie Foster really stepped up well past their entry times/placing to help us score enough points to overtake Foothill College on the last day," Craighead said.
On the men's side, Zach Zauhar-Kurr and Marcu Holunga were high point winners, each winning all three of their individual races. Ryan Ridosko was given the most difficult assignment going head-to-head with West Valley's top swimmers (one of which is ranked No. 1 in the State), and finished 2nd in all of his events.
Ross Brown won the 400 Individual Medley and was second in both the 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle, behind teammate Marcu Holunga. Like on the women's side, everyone contributed in big ways.
"We had nine men also dive the previous weekend, in which the results of that meet are two of the individual events for Conference Championships, as well as qualify for State Championships," Craighead said. "Ryan Clark, Zach Perry, and Steve Ragatz went 1-2-3 on men's 1M diving, and Zach Perry, Ryan Clark, Zach Ulrich went 1-2-3 on men's 3M Diving.
Here's a look at Las Positas' Coast Conference Championship history:
Women: 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Men: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023
Teamwork paid off brilliantly for the Las Positas College Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving squads at the 2023 Coast Conference Championships in Fremont.
The Hawks men's team finished first, and are now tied with the LPC women with six Coast Conference titles. The LPC women finished second behind West Valley this time.
Hawks head coach Jason Craighead had high praise for both LPC teams.
"In general, every individual on both teams was able to score points and contribute to our successes," Craighead said. "That is something difficult to do, have everyone score in at least one event, but has been a huge part of our success over the years: Identifying individual skills, preparation, and helping our athletes do something well outside their comfort zone."
Entries for the State Championship at East Los Angeles Community College (May 4-6) were announced Monday, April 24.
On the women's side, Las Positas had some outstanding swims and performances, but the Hawks were too small in numbers to score more points.
Ashley Sand, Samantha Dorn, and Sarah Thompson, the team's core group, scored big points, but the other Hawks also performed "really well" and moved up a lot of places to contribute as well, the coach said.
"Jayme Helm, Haley Jelonic, Isabella Arguello, and Maddie Foster really stepped up well past their entry times/placing to help us score enough points to overtake Foothill College on the last day," Craighead said.
On the men's side, Zach Zauhar-Kurr and Marcu Holunga were high point winners, each winning all three of their individual races. Ryan Ridosko was given the most difficult assignment going head-to-head with West Valley's top swimmers (one of which is ranked No. 1 in the State), and finished 2nd in all of his events.
Ross Brown won the 400 Individual Medley and was second in both the 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle, behind teammate Marcu Holunga. Like on the women's side, everyone contributed in big ways.
"We had nine men also dive the previous weekend, in which the results of that meet are two of the individual events for Conference Championships, as well as qualify for State Championships," Craighead said. "Ryan Clark, Zach Perry, and Steve Ragatz went 1-2-3 on men's 1M diving, and Zach Perry, Ryan Clark, Zach Ulrich went 1-2-3 on men's 3M Diving.
Here's a look at Las Positas' Coast Conference Championship history:
Women: 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Men: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023