Chew Makes Stellar Debut

Friday, January 6

Riverside, Calif.

12:00 PM

California Baptist University

125

116

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Photo by: Conner Schuh

Chew Makes Stellar Debut

1/6/2017 4:04:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Before California Baptist University, Garret Chew had never dove before. Even so, the true freshman and former nationally top-10 ranked athlete on the trampoline qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in his collegiate diving debut on Friday.

Chew provided arguably the highlight of the entire day when he recorded a 70-point dive, a first for any CBU diver according to Dive Coach Jeff Couto. He qualified for nationals on the 3-meter board with 337.15 points in six dives, which was well above the qualifier of 295.

"It wasn't a surprise," Couto said of Chew. "One of the goals we set for Garret was to be able to qualify in his first collegiate meet and he did that with flying colors. This really shows his potential heading into conference."

Chew placed third on the 3-meter, behind teammate Zach Parry's 349.80 points for second place, while Andrew Rotundo took fourth (287.15). Parry won the 1-meter with 328.12 points, while Rotundo wound up in third (248.25) and Chew in fourth (243).

Chew's performance helped lead the Lancers, who were without the services of standout Alexis Ohmar, to a 125-116 non-conference victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at the Lancer Aquatics Center. CBU improves to 2-1 in duals this season and will compete at the Grand Canyon Invite on Saturday.

Robert Griffith led CBU to a team-high two victories on Friday, while Christian Britton, Bernardo Valentim and Scott Tolman won a race of their own. Brandon Schuster, a mid-season addition, won the 300-yard individual medley, took second in the 500-medley relay and fourth in the 500 free.

"The new guy on the block, Schuster, had a great day and a nice come-from-behind finish for a close win in the 300 IM," Coach Rick Rowland said.

Griffith won the 500 freestyle in four minutes, 41.61 seconds and then took the 1000 free in 9:43.59. Valentim took the 100 free in a winning time of 46.65 and was second in the 50 free (21.60). Tolman won the 300 breast in 3:16.24 and was third in the 300 IM (3:06.56), just in front of Justin Quiroga (3:06.65), while Britton won the 200 free in 1:44.87.

Schuster clocked in at 3:00.43 to win the 300 IM and was fourth in the 500 free (4:50.93). He then joined forces with Adrien Deloffre, Adrian Gutierrez and Luke Schuler to take second in the 500-medley relay in 4:47.15. Quiroga, Tolman, Chris Sands and David Ring took third in the relay.

Josh Fluetsch was runner-up in both the 500 free (4:46.12) and 200 free (1:46.10). Tanner Shore took fourth in the 100 (48.46) and third in the 1000 free (10:01.77). Deloffre and Gutierrez went third (21.81) and fifth (22.45), respectively, in the 50 free.

RESULTS