College of Marin Swim and Dive capped an excellent season with a magnificent showing at the Bay Valley Conference Championships. Nick Cruse took first place of all male swimmers while teammate Arel Shoua took third amongst 53 competitors. For the women, Dominique Duro was placed second of 76 swimmers. All three have a chance to represent College of Marin at the State Finals. On the team side the women took fifth of nine schools, while the men finished fifth in the field of six teams.
Nick Cruse was victorious in four separate races and neared the BVC Male Swimmer Of The Year Award for his efforts. He opened his account with first place in the Men's 500 Yard Freestyle where he was victorious in 4:44.98 the only swimmer to break the five minute mark. He finished first in the Men's 50 Yard Butterfly in a swift 23.77 seconds. He was also victorious in the Men's 400 Yard IM where he finished in 4:13.15, 13 seconds ahead of second place. His fourth victory was in the 200 Yard Butterfly where he finished in 1:53.74. Cruse garnered 128 points in the competition to take the top spot on the Men's side.
Dominique Duro had a very impressive day of her own with three wins and a second place finish to her name. She started her campaign with a victory in the 50 Yard Backstroke where she finished first with a time of 28.35 seconds. She placed second in the Women's 200 Yard IM in 2:18.93, just three seconds off the first place pace. She tasted victory again in the 100 Yard Backstroke with a finals time of 1:01.92 and rounded off her day with a win in the 200 Yard Backstroke in 2:13.73. She earned 124 points for her performance to take second overall.
Arel Shoua also had a great showing at the BVC Championships with three wins in his own right. He was the victor in the 50 Yard Breastroke in a time of 28.03 seconds, just .02 seconds ahead of second place. He was first in the 50 Yard Freestyle with a time of 22.09 seconds and took first place in the 100 Yard Breaststroke where he finished in 1:01.21. His three victories gave him 122 points, and third place overall in the Men's competition.
The Mariners had several excellent performances in addition to their top finishers.
Sophia Bruinsma took third in the 50 Yard Breaststroke in a time of 34.66 seconds. She also placed third in the Women's 50 Yard Freestyle in 26.36 seconds, just 0.26 seconds behind first place. She added a third place finish in the 100 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 1:15.14. She completed her quartet of races with a fourth place finish in the 200 Yard Breaststroke in 2:51.01.
Scott Swanson was third in the 200 Yard Freestyle in 1:53.77 and was fourth in the 500 Yard Freestyle in a time of 5:23.17. Skylar Rios-Merwin took fifth in the Women's 200 Yard Backstroke in 2:31.96 and seventh in the Women's 200 Yard IM in 2:42.77.
It was a thrilling few days in Fairfield for the Mariners who performed exceptionally well at the Championship meet.
Nick Cruse is likely to compete at the State Championships while Arel Shoua and Dominique Duro also have a chance to qualify based on their times.
The state championships are May 3rd-5th at DeAnza College in Cupertino.
