The Santa Monica College (SMC) women's Swim and Dive Team is on the verge of making history at the 3C2A state championship. After two days of intense competition, the Corsairs have a commanding lead of 29 points over their closest rival, Sierra College. The defending champions, Orange Coast College, are trailing in third place.
The Corsairs have dominated the relay events, winning four out of four so far. The 800 Freestyle relay team of Valerie Burchard, Risa Akatsu, Reva Reignier, and Ema Klimauskas outpaced the 2nd place finishing team by over 7 seconds. The 200 and 400 medley relays also showcased the Corsairs' strength and depth in all strokes.
In the individual events, the Corsairs have also scored valuable points with several podium finishes. Reva Reignier took bronze in the 100 Yard Butterfly, followed by Ema Klimauskas in fifth place and Wilma Henriksson in 16th place. Risa Akatsu also earned a bronze medal in the 200-yard Freestyle. Wilma Henriksson came close to gold in the 100-yard Breaststroke, finishing second by a narrow margin.
The final day of the championship promises to be exciting and thrilling, as the Corsairs aim to secure their first-ever state title. They are the favorites to win the last relay event, the 400-yard freestyle, where they have a significant advantage over the other teams. They also have several swimmers who could challenge for medals in their respective events: Emily Lester and Risa Akatsu in the 100 yard freestyle, Wilma Henriksson in the 200 yard breaststroke, and Valerie Burchard in the 1650 yard freestyle.
Coach Brian Eskridge said the motto for day 3 is to "Get it Home!" Eskridge uses the phrase throughout the season when preaching finishing a set or race strong, "We must swim well tomorrow, but this team is ready to compete, and I can't wait to watch them in the water. They have shown remarkable teamwork, dedication, and talent throughout the season."
