Cougars Continue Conference Competition at WSC Meet No. 3

College of the Canyons swim & dive student-athlete Ian Rho wearing goggles and a swim cap performs the backstroke in a pool, creating splashes of water, with a lane divider visible alongside them.
Results
March 30, 2026

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

SANTA MONICA — College of the Canyons returned to action at the Western State Conference (WSC) meet hosted by Santa Monica College on Friday, as the Cougars posted seven top-10 finishes on the day.

COC was led by freshman Ian Rho who won the 200-yard IM event at a time of 2:01.30 to represent the top result of the day.

Rho also placed second in the 200-yard backstroke at a pace of 2:03.29 and was the Cougars' top scorer of the meet.

Bretton Williams saw his top result in the 1M dive event, finishing third in the field of five with a score of 127.75. Williams also finished ninth in the 200-yard breaststroke at 3:00.55.

George Garibay swam a time of 2:41.75 in the 200-yard backstroke to take 10th in the field.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay it was Rho, Ethan Thai, Garibay and Williams combining for a time of 3:50.42 to take fifth in the field of 10 teams.

The team of Rho, Williams, Garibay and Thai also placed fifth in the 400-yard medley relay.

In the men's team standings it was Ventura College (148) winning the meet ahead of L.A. Valley College (127), host Santa Monica (119), Canyons (41) and Citrus College (29).

"I am very pleased with how our team performed," said COC swim & dive head coach Erik Matheson. "Our student-athletes have continued to make progress throughout the season as we head toward the end-of-season conference championships."

The COC women's squad only competed in the 1M dive event, with Nicole Lerma competing but failing to qualify for a final score.

L.A. Valley (172) won the women's meet ahead of Ventura (122), Santa Monica (99), COC (3) and Citrus (1).

Canyons is scheduled to next compete at the annual Pasadena City College/East L.A. College Invitational being held April 2-4, on the ELAC campus.

The Western State Conference (WSC) Championships will be held April 16-18, at L.A. Valley 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. 

—Photo by Carla Sophia Velasco/COC Sports Information