Canyons Swim & Dive Starts Season at Larry Baratte Invite

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

VENTURA — College of the Canyons swim & dive hit the deck at the season-opening Larry Baratte Invite hosted by Ventura College on Feb. 8. 

The meet, which also served as the Western State Conference (WSC) preview meet, attracted a field of 10 schools on both sides. Santa Barbara City College won the women's meet, with Cuesta college earning top spot in the men's competition.

Canyons finished eighth in the men's team standings while the COC women's squad entered just a solo diver and did not factor into the team results.

Freshman Savannah Thorstensen earned the first victory of the season for Canyons after finishing tops in the women's 1m board event. Thorstensen turned in a score of 185.5 to win the event by more than 50 points. 

On the men's side it was freshman Sebastian Villalobos with a pair of runner-up results. The Valencia High School grad posted a time of 2:09.78 in the 200 IM and was later clocked at 1:02.33 in the 100-yard breaststroke. Villalobos also started the meet with a ninth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:58.73).

COC sophomore Diego Rozbruch also earned points by finishing sixth in both the 50-yard freestyle (23.36) and 100-yard freestyle (52.12) events.

Canyons will next compete Friday, Feb. 21, at the WSC meet hosted by Cuesta College.  

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.