Men's Swimming and Diving - 2008 Meet Highlights

May 1-3, 2008

Wolverines Battled for Sixth Place Tie at State Championships

Sierra College Wolverines traveled to Saddleback College May 1-3 to compete at the largest of all meets at the Community College level, State Championships. States is a 6-session, 3-day meet, where the top 16 athletes in each individual event and top 12 relays in the state qualify to compete.

Sierra was represented by 7 men, whom qualified 12 individual swims as well as all 5 relays. Each of these seven athletes earned National All-American Certificates. Wolverine men finished the meet in a sixth place tie with Chaffey College. Both teams scored 190 total points, just 43.5 points behind 5th place American River College.

Sierra finished 3rd place in the Big 8 Conference and had 18 All-Conference Athletes. Wolverine men also broke a school record in the 200 freestyle relay. Mark Austerman led off the relay with a 21.5, while Spencer Shapton split a 22.1. Sophomore Dan Dreher and anchor Justin Sutter both split 21.0. Their final time of 1:25.87 was good enough for a third place at Conference Championships.

State Championships Results are as follows:

Thursday

• 200 Freestyle Relay: Mark Austerman, Dan Dreher, Spencer Shapton, Justin Sutter 6th, 1:27.03
• 500 Freestyle: Scott Stephanopoulos 18th, 4:50.18
• 200 Individual Medley: Andy Perez 9th, 1:57.34  Jeff Nicolaysen 15th 2:00.55
• 50 Freestyle: Mark Austerman 13th 21.69
• 400 Medley Relay: Scott Stephanoplous, Andy Perez, Jeff Nicolaysen, Justin Sutter 9th, 3:36.56

Friday

• 200 Medley Relay: Justin Sutter, Andy Perez, Mark Austerman, Dan Dreher 6th, 1:37.70
• 400 Individual Medley: Jeff Nicolaysen 8th 4:16.20, Scott Stephanopoulos 9th 4:14.71
• 100 Breaststroke: Andy Perez 6th 59.35
• 800 Freestyle Relay: Scott Stephanopoulos, Spencer Shapton, Jeff Nicolaysen, Dan Dreher 10th 7:17.90

Saturday

• 1650 Free: Scott Stephanopoulos 9th 16:45.44
• 100 Freestyle: Mark Austerman 18th 48:28
• 200 Breaststroke: Andy Perez 9th 2:08.12
• 200 Butterfly: Jeff Nicolaysen 7th 1:58.74
• 400 Freestyle Relay: Dan Dreher, Mark Austerman, Spencer Shapton, Justin Sutter 5th 3:12.38

Andy Perez swimming breaststroke	Jeff Nicolaysen swimming butterfly
Men's 200 Medley Relay: Justin Sutter, Dan Dreher, Andy Perez, Mark Austerman	Coach Chris Breitbart, Scott Stephanopoulos, Mark Austerman, Jeff Nicolaysen, Spencer Shapton, Dan Dreher, Andy Perez, Justin Sutter, Coach Justin Smith

April 24-26, 2008

Sierra College Wolverine's Have Record Setting Meet

Sierra College Swimming competed in the Big 8 Conference Championships at Delta College on April 24-26. At the conclusion of the three day meet, Wolverine men walked away with a third place overall finish with 519 points, 89 points above 4th place American River College. Santa Rosa would go on to beat DVC, who has won 18 of the last 19 years.

Every Wolverine would swim exceptionally well, all improving on their season and personal best times. However, one of the most remarkable swims that made the record books came in the Men's 200 yard freestyle relay. Led by Sophomore Dan Dreher and freshman Mark Austerman, Justin Sutter and Spencer Shapton, the relay finished 3rd place overall in 1:25.87. Austerman’s would go on to finish third place in the 50 freestyle (21.51) and fifth place in the 100 freestyle (48.04) while Dreher would finish 4th in the 200 freestyle (1:47.00).

Other notable swims include Jeff Nicolaysen who finished 4th in both the 200 butterfly (1:59.29) and 400 IM (4:17.41). Scott Stephanopoulos had a lifetime best in the 1650 freestyle, where he finished 3rd (16:52.54), which would qualify him for State Championships. Andy Perez also qualified for States finishing third in the 100 breaststroke (59.38) and 2nd in the 200 breaststroke (2:10.56).

The Wolverines also claimed third places 200 Medley relay (1:38.23) and 400 freestyle relay (3:12.68). The 400 Medley relay finished 4th (3:38.71) and the 800 Freestyle relay 5th (7:14.64). Sierra will be traveling to Saddleback College to compete at State Championships on May 1-3.

April 25, 2008

Big 8 Conference Championships

Wolverines Continue to Swim Fast

On the second day of Big 8 Conference Championships the Sierra Men were again 100 percent with season best times. The evening session had a delayed start due to a computer problem, but that didn’t slow down the 200-medley relay. Sutter, Perez, Austerman and Dreher finished 3rd with a 1:38.23. Following was the 400 IM where Derek Buda had a personal best 4:42.51 for 10th place.

Sophomore Jeff Nicolaysen had a great swim to finish 4th (4:17.41) and Scott Stephanopoulos finished 6th (4:29.26). Mike Chavez and Josh Smart both had best times in the 100 fly finishing 14th and 15th (59.45 and 1:00.68).

The 200 yard freestyle proved to be a great event for the Wolverines. Clay Molina finished 14th (2:02.53) while Austerman and Shapton finished 7th and 8th (1:49.24 and 1:50.12). Dan Dreher was Sierra’s best finisher with a solid 1:47.00 to give him a 4th place.

In the 100 breaststroke James teeter dropped time to finish with a 1:12.86. Travis Henderson would finish 16th (1:09.4) and Justin Sutter 10th (1:03.44). Andy Perez had a great swim battling back in the closing yards to finish 3rd (59.38). The final individual event of the day was the 100 yard backstroke where every swim would return to score points in finals.

Ben Emard would win the consoulation heat with a lifetime best 59.11, followed by Kylen Custard also going a personal best 59.23. Shane Solomon went a 1:06.99 and first year swimmer Ryan Fee finished 15th (1:17.61). Members of the 800 freestyle relay, Dan Dreher, Spencer Shapton, Jeff Nicolaysen and Scott Stephanopoulos, would conclude the day under the dim lit pool lights. They were satisfied with a 5th place finish after a great day of swimming and several delays.

April 24, 2008

Big 8 Conference Championships

New School Record Set on Day 1 at Big 8 Conference Championships

Wolverine men are seeing the payoffs of their dedication, sacrifice and hard work. After the first day Sierra trails Santa Rosa and DVC, but leads American River College by 61 points.

The meet began with the 500 yard freestyle, where in heat 1, Clay Molina and Shane Solomon both dropped nearly 30 seconds, going 5:31.01 with Solomon less than a second behind his teammate. The 500 freestyle yielded the largest time drops where Josh Smart went a best time (5:38.89) and Derek Buda improved his best (5:22.21). Kylen Custard finished 11th with a (5:10.15) while Freshman Travis Henderson finished 15th (5:15.63). The top finisher for the Wolverines was Scott Stephanopoulos who finished 7th (4:51.52).

The next event at Delta’s pool, was the 200 IM where Ben Emard (2:15.35) and Mike Chavez (2:20.55) went season bests. Returning for second swims in the evening session was Andy Perez 6th overall (2:01.00), Jeff Nicolaysen 8th (2:02.76) and Spencer Shapton who finished 16th, 2:07.00.

The fastest event, 50 yard Freestyle, was led by sprinter Mark Austerman who finished 3rd 21.59, followed closely by Sophmore Dan Dreher 7th 22.04 and Justin Sutter 9th 21.95. Ryan Fee (27.76) and James Teeter (25.63) also went lifetime bests in the same event.

Austerman, Dreher, Sutter, and Shapton were members of the 200 Freestyle Relay who claimed a third place (1:25.87), setting a new Sierra College record, breaking the old record of 1:26.92 set in 2003.

The day closed with Stephanopoulos, Perez, Nicolaysen and Sutter in the 400 medley relay, finishing 4th (3:38.71).

The Wolverines were 100% best times for the events held on day 1.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Wolverine Men Beat Delta and Sac City

The Wolverines faced Delta and Sac City in a tri meet at Sierra College on April 4th.

Sierra’s Scott Stephanopoulos began the meet by winning the 1000 yard freestyle (10:38.23)and finished second in the 400 IM (4:21.72) by just .12 second after an incredible freestyle leg. Scott recovered to win the 500 yard freestyle (5:03.13).

Mark Austerman swam a season best 21.81 to win the 50 yard freestyle, as well as won the 100 freestyle (49.15), following teammate Dan Dreher’s 2nd place in the 200 yard freesyle (1:52.02). The swim of the meet came from Jeff Nicolaysen in the 200 yard butterfly where he posted a season best 2:05.48, catching and passing a Sac City swimmer in the closing yards. Sophomore Kylen Custard was Sierra’s best finisher in the 200 yard backstroke, finishing 3rd (2:18.18). Andy Perez won the 200 yard breaststroke with a 2:15.06 while diver Andrew Ilardi finished second on the 1 and 3 meter boards. Sierra closed the meet with a victory in the 400 yard freestyle relay (3:20.86).

Friday, March 13, 2008

Sierra Competes at Cuesta Invitational

The men Wolverines traveled to San Luis Obipo to compete at the two day Cuesta Invitational held March 14th and 15th. Friday began with the 200 Free Relay where Mark Austerman, Scott Stephanopoulos, and Sophmores Andy Perez and Dan Dreher put up a season best 1:29.52. Austerman finished 8th in the 100 free breaking 50.0 for the first time this season (49.2), while Dreher finished 18th (50.2) and Stephanopoulos finished 24th (50.54). Andy Perez had his best finish of the meet in the 200 breaststroke (2:15.28). Jeff Nicolaysen, Michael Chavez and Joshua Smart competed in the grueling 200 butterfly finishing respectfully 6th (2:06.35), 13th (2:13.99) and 27th (2:38.92). The final event of the day was the 800 free relay with Perez, Dreher, Stephanopoulos, and Spencer Shapton.

Saturday, March 14, 2008

Saturday began with the 200 Medley relay, Sierra finished with a 1:45.84. Jeff Nicolaysen had a great swim in the 400 IM, dropping 5 seconds from his season best, finishing 5th (4:28.35). The 200 freestyle proved to be a tought event with Perez being Sierras top finisher, 14th (1:53.07), followed by Dreher 17th (1:53.45), Shapton 25th (1:56.44), and Kylen Custard 35th (1:58.61). Stephanopoulos, Dreher, Austerman and Shapton combined to add another season best for the weekend in the 400 yd Freestyle Relay (3:20.31). The 200 IM was a great event for our men, while each went season best times, Perez (2:03.98), Stephanopoulos (2:05.1) and Nicolaysen (2:05.71). The blazing 50 freestyle had Austerman and Dreher finish with their fastest times of the year (22.26) and (22.56). Austerman completed his first 500 free of the year finishing with a 5:26.13, while teammate Kylen Custard dropped 11 seconds from his season best (5:33.04). Wolverines will be in action again on March 28th at Santa Rosa.

February 29, March 1, 2008

Mt SAC Invitational Shows off Southern California’s Talent

Sierra College was just one of three teams from Northern California that traveled to compete at this years Mt Sac Invite. The meet was held on Feb 29th and March 1st and displayed the best of Southern California’s top teams. In all 21 teams showed up to compete.

Friday began with the mile and Scott Stephanopoulos swam a 17:47.68 to finish 5th of the 21 competitors. Sophomore Jeff Nicolaysen had a 12th place finish in the 200 IM (2:08.4) while Dan Dreher finished 17th in the 200 free (1:52.00). Sierra’s top finisher in the 100 backstroke was Ben Emard finishing 26th in 1:03.4. Breaststroker Andy Perez finished 2nd in the 100 breast in 1:01.33. The 800 freestyle relay ended the first day and a 7:39.86 earned a 5th place finish.

On Saturday Stephanopoulos had a great swim in his 500 yard free, finishing 8th (4:59.86). Sierra’s 200 free relay finished 4th, 1:30.02. Nicolaysen finished 13th in the grueling 400 yard IM with his season best (4:33.54). Mark Austerman tied for 6th place in the 50 free (22.44).

Sierra’s 200 medley relay brought home a third by a very close margin finishing in 1:42.24. Austerman had yet another tie on the day, this time for 9th in the 100 free style (50.11) followed closely by teammate Dreher (50.19) finishing 12th of the 168 entries. Perez finished 3rd in the 200 breast (2:14.52) just .06 seconds behind the 2nd place finisher from Ventura.

Nicolaysen finished with another season best time in the 200 yard fly, 2:06.6 earned him a 7th place finish. Stephanopoulos finished 6th in the 200 yard backstroke (2:06.3,) while Sophomore Kylen Custard improved his season best finishing 19th (2:19.3). The final relay of the weekend, the 400 yard freestyle, led by Dreher, Austerman, Stephanopoulos and Justin Sutter raced to a third place with a 3:20.8.

Wolverines are in action at the Cuesta Invitational in San Luis Obispo on March 14th and 15th.

February 28, 2008

Wolverines Beat Blue Devils and Giants

Sierra Men traveled to Merced to take on the hosting Merced Blue Devils and College of Sequoia’s Giants. The Wolverines claimed their second dual meet victory beating Merced 60 to 50 and COS 76 to 29. Ben Emard, Scott Stephanopoulos, Mark Austerman and Dan Dreher began the meet with the 200 yard medley victory, while Stephanoplous went on to win the 200 and 1000 yard freestyle events. Justin Sutter had a win in the 100 yard freestyle and finished second in the 100 yard breaststroke. Spencer Shapton walked away with 2 season's best times finishing 2nd in both the 100 and 500 yard freestyle events.

Sierra’s divers placed 2nd and 3rd on both the 1 and 3 meter boards to assist in the victory. Austerman, Sutter, Shapton and Dreher went on to win the 200 yard freestyle relay sprinting to a season best 1:30.77.

February 22, 23, 2008

Perez Leads Wolverines to Third Place Finish

Sierra Men finish third behind Santa Rosa and DVC at this year’s two-day Panther Invite held at Sacramento City College. Nine teams showed up to compete at this indoor meet at Hoos Pool. Wolverines were led by Andy Perez who battled to win the 100 (1:00.24) and 200 (2:13.25) yard breaststroke events. Perez also finished 6th in the 200 IM (2:05.07) and 5th in the 400 IM (436.85). Following Perez was Scott Stephanopoulos 10th in the 200 IM, 6th in the 400 IM, 15th in the 100 free and 18th in the 200 free (1:54.29).

Brent Nicolaysen’s best finish came in the 200 yard butterfly, 4th with a 2:10.00, he was 7th in the 400 IM (4:41.72), 9th in the 200 backstroke (2:13.37) and 11th in the 200 IM (2:10.54).

Dan Dreher and Mark Austerman showed they could score in the fastest events. In the 50 free, Austerman would finish 4th (22.27) and Dreher 8th (23.02). Coming back at night after swimming the same time in the morning, Austerman would take 13th (50.93) and Dreher 14th (51.09). Austerman would follow with a 16th place in the 100 backstroke (104.94).

Ben Emard showed he could contribute to the Wolverines with an 11th in the 100 back (1:02.13) and 12th in 200 back (2:22.7). The 200 back also included finishes from Kylen Custard (11th), Mike Chavez (13th), Derek Buda (2:28.84) and Shane Solomon (2:36.54). Justin Sutter finished 9th in the 100 breast (1:06.69) and 17th in the 50 free.

The Wolverines will be in action this Thursday at Merced College before traveling to Walnut for the Mt Sac Invite on February 29th and March 1st.

February 14, 2008

Wolverines Beat Modesto at Home

Sierra hosted the visiting Modesto Pirates on Valentines Day and proved to be victorious. Sierra was led by sophomore’s Andy Perez and Jeff Nicolaysen as well as incoming freshmen Scott Stephanopoulos and Mark Austerman. Perez finished first in the 100 fly and 200 IM, while Nicolaysen was first in the 100 back and 2nd in the 200 IM. Stephanopoulos finished the 1000 and 200 freestyle back-to-back with top finishes in both while teammate Austerman proved he could win in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle. Teammates Dan Dreher, Ben Emard, Shane Solomon, Mike Chavez and Kylen Custard were also contributors to the Wolverines 76 to 19 point win. Sierra divers Alex Strand and Andew Ilardi displayed acrobatics on the boards, assisting in the team’s success.

February 9, 2008

Men Finish Second at Nor Cal Relays

Sierra men returned home with a second place trophy in hand, improving on last years third place at the Nor Cal Relays in Santa Rosa on February 9th. This years squad includes 5 returning sophomores and 12 incoming freshman, as well as 2 divers. All-American and school record holder, Andy Perez led the wolverines to an easy victory in the 300 yard breaststroke relay finishing with a time of 3:09.47. The wolverines had 2 second place finishes in the 200 medley (1:44.73) and 400 (3:48.79) medley relays, losing the 400 by less than .4 seconds to the host Santa Rosa Bear cubs. The 200 and 400 yard freestyle relay yielded 2 third place finishes, and left the Wolverines content after their first introduction to racing this season.