Men’s Swimming Wins 7th Straight CVC Championship

College of the Sequoias' Men's Swimming & Diving team at the Central Valley Conference Championships at Merced College on April 20, 2024.
College of the Sequoias' Men's Swimming & Diving team at the Central Valley Conference Championships at Merced College on April 20, 2024.
April 24, 2024

The Central Valley Conference (CVC) Championships culminated in a display of aquatic prowess as the College of the Sequoias (COS) Men's Swimming & Diving team clinched the top spot with 1,093 points and their 7th consective CVC Championship.  

In a testament to their collective strength, COS secured numerous podium finishes throughout the competition. The 200 free relay team of Jackson LoBue (Monache HS), Augusto DeCastro (Exeter HS), Blake Sifton (Sierra Pacific HS), and Jake Chambers (Redwood HS) showcased the team's speed by clinching second place with a time of 1:28.54. Meanwhile, in the 400 medley, the Giants quartet of Vinnie Sanchez (Golden West HS), Braden Rohman (Mt Whitney HS), Blake Sifton, and Augusto DeCastro narrowly missed the top spot, finishing a close second with a time of 3:39.85. Their relentless pursuit of excellence was further evident in the 200 medley relay, where they secured another second-place finish, clocking in at 1:38.16. The 800 free relay saw the Giants finish in 7:33.98 with Dylan Wiggins (Porterville HS), Vinnie Sanchez, Blake Sifton, and Jake Chambers. 

Individual performances were equally impressive, with COS athletes leaving a mark in their respective events. Jackson LoBue and Augusto DeCastro showcased their abilities with third and fourth-place finishes in the 50 free as they finished in 22.62 and 22.65, respectively. While Jake Chambers, Gage Benevedes (El Diamante HS), and Nathan Hunt (Harmony Home School Academy) demonstrated their mettle in the 200 free, all securing top-five finishes. 

The Giants' dominance extended to the endurance events, with Daniel Haley (Sierra Pacific HS) emerging as the 1650 free champion, clocking in at 19:20.49. Haley continued to assert his supremacy in the 400 individual medley, claiming the title with a time of 5:06.65. 

Not to be outdone, COS asserted their superiority in the technical disciplines, with Braden Rohman (28.21) and Augusto DeCastro (29.16) securing a one-two finish in the 50 breast, while Blake Sifton showcased his talent in the 100 and 200 fly, claiming victory in both events. 

The team's success was further highlighted by Easton Farmer's (Golden West HS) stellar performance in diving, earning him the title of CVC Men's Diving Champion and Diver of the Year. Farmer's remarkable feats in the 3-meter (224.80) and 1-meter (217.60) diving events underscored COS's unwavering commitment to excellence. Jackson Coon (Redwood HS) came in 2nd with 147.40 points in 1 meter diving.

As the curtains closed on the CVC Championships, COS Men's Swimming & Diving emerged as champions. Not only were the Giants, CVC Champions, they also received individual awards as Head Coach Allyson Briano was named CVC Coach of the Year and Easton Farmer was named Diver of the Year. With eyes set on the future, the Giants will prepare for the 3C2A State Championships, which will be hosted at Orange Coast College from May 2nd to May 4th. The state qualifiers are the divers, Easton Farmar and Jackson Coon.