OCHS swimmers flex their muscles at Royal Invite





Thirtytwo schools competed in the 28th annual Royal Swim Invitational/Josh Mlakar Memorial Meet last weekend, but it was Oaks Christian that dominated the event.

The OCHS boys’ and girls’ teams took home first-place honors Saturday at the Rancho Simi Community Park pool in Simi Valley, with the girls’ team beating Flintridge Sacred Arts Academy by eight points, and the boys’ squad blowing away second-place La Canada with a meet-high 438 points.

The Lion boys finished first in nine events, including all three relays. The Oaks Christian relay teams included seniors Kevin Nielsen, Mike Craft and Nolan Koon, as well as junior Collin Baratte and sophomore Chase Bloch.

Baratte finished first in the 200yard IM (2:01.78) and 100yard backstroke (54.59).

Koon placed first in the 100yard breast stroke (59.90) and the 50-yard freestyle (21.74), just ahead of Craft, who finished in third (22.62).

Bloch was the third Lion to win two individual events as the sophomore took home firstplace finishes in the 100-yard butterfly (52.84) and 500-yard freestyle (4:42.44). Oak Park’s Adam Mills placed third in the 500 (4:48.32).

Calabasas’ Vlad Bekerman placed third in the 100-yard freestyle (49.38), while Moorpark’s Michael Lorch was second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.11). Moorpark finished eighth in the boys’ division with 93 points. Royal’s boys finished in third place with 162 points, just ahead of Calabasas, who placed fourth with 127 points.

On the girls’ side, OCHS was just as impressive. The Oaks Christian girls’ took first place in four events, including the 400-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay. OCHS relay swimmers included senior Erin Rosas, sophomore Hayley Shillington and freshmen Kelsey Koon, Diane Safa and Taylor Amstutz.

Shillington also took first place in the 200-yard freestyle (1:57.48) and 500-yard freestyle events (5:06.34).

Agoura freshman Shannyn Hultin won the 200-yard IM (2:11.95), finishing just ahead of Sareen Hagopian of Calabasas (2:19.06) and Moorpark’s Summer Bennett (2:19.30) and Samantha Magnani (2:19.70).

Thousand Oaks had strong performances by seniors Alex Henley and Camille Duckett. Henley won the 100yard butterfly (59.34), just ahead of Duckett, who finished in third (59.83). Henley also won the 100-yard backstroke (59.48), while Duckett took first place in the 100-yard freestyle (53.36).

Moorpark’s Alanah Bird won the 100-yard breast stroke (1:11.65).

Moorpark finished in sixth place in the girls’ division with 135 points, just behind Royal, who was fifth with 145 points. Calabasas placed fourth with 146 points.


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