Balance Into the Break

Thursday, December 17

Santa Rosa, Calif.

9:30 AM

California Baptist University

California State East Bay Christmas Invite

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

12/21/2015 1:55:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – In the final two days of Cal State East Bay's Christmas Invite, California Baptist University rattled off five more NCAA Division II B cuts and seven victories.

Depth and balance has been the key for the Lancers this season, and it was on display once again at Santa Rosa Junior College's Quinn Aquatic Center. The individual medley became a display of the Lancers' versatility, as they had three of the top-four finishers in both the 100 and 400 IMs.

Astoundingly, CBU swept the top-six spots in the 100 IM. Josh Hanson led the way in 51.29 seconds, while Justin Quiroga (53.92), James Wilson (54.11), Bernardo Gonzalez Valentim (55.13), Jim Bossert (55.73) and Shane Spees (55.73) filled in behind him all the way to sixth place.

Hanson swept the IM races on the week with another win in the 400 in a strong consideration time of 3:54.63. Quiroga took second (4:07.61) and Wilson took fourth (4:11.61) in the event.

Once again, Hanson had himself a week and won four individual events with two consideration times over the last two days. He picked up his other D-II B cut with a win in the 200 butterfly (1:50.49) and almost had another in a victory in the 100 back (50.03).

The senior also had a B cut, win and two runner-up finishes in relays down the stretch. His 800-free relay team, which included Robert Griffith, Valentim and Alexis Ohmar got the win and consideration mark (6:48.42).

Hanson joined forces with Quiroga, Ohmar and Elijah Barrows for a runner-up mark in the 400-free relay (3:05.81) and then met with Wilson, Ohmar and Brent Teraoka for the same result in the 200-medley relay (1:33.65).

CBU received its final two consideration times from Griffith and Barrows in the 1650 freestyle. Griffith won the event in 15:52.00 and Barrows took second in 15:56.12.

Ohmar spearheaded two more showcases of the Lancers' depth in the 100 and 200 freestyles. He took a team-high second in both, with times of 46.33 and 1:41.73, respectively. Barrows (47.94), Teraoka (48.46) and Valentim (48.60) took fourth through sixth in the 100 free, while Griffith (1:43.04), Valentim (1:43.33) and Barrows (1:44.76) swept third through fifth in the 200 free.

Wilson provided CBU's other win in the 200 back (1:54) and also took third in the 100 backstroke (52.75). Quiroga had two top-four individual finishes in breaststrokes – taking second in the 200 (2:10.99) and fourth in the 100 (1:00.90).

After already showcasing its quality in IM, freestyle, breast and backstroke events, the Lancers added the butterfly to their resume when they placed the third through seventh swimmers. Conor Martin led the way for CBU in 52.36, while Adrian Gutierrez (53.41), Teraoka (53.72), Spees (54.00) and Josh Fleutsch (54.45) rounded out the group.

Now in the midst of the Christmas break, CBU will rest up before hosting three-straight duals over an eight-day span with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Fresno Pacific/Concordia and UC San Diego. The Sunbirds come to Riverside on January 8^th at 2 p.m.

RESULTS

TEAM FINISHES