The Beavers completed their best season ever, placing fifth at the meet at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.  Garrett Richman won the 1650 freestyle, swam to a second in the 500 freestyle, and third in the 400 IM. He broke three school records from 1972 along the way.  Devin Brizzee placed eighth in the 100 breastroke and broke the 1980 school record with a time of 59.04. Brad Babcock was fifth in the 50 free and 100 free.  All five school relay records were broken this season. The 200 and 400 medley team of Chris Maldonado, Brizzee, Richman, and Babcock smashed the previous records from 1996 and 1981. The 200 freestyle relay team of Robert Blakeley, Sebastian Cordoba, Brizzee, and Babcock set a new record in that even, breaking a record from 1996. The 400 freestyle relay team of Maldonado, Cordoba, Blakeley, and Babcock broke the record from 1980. The 800 freestyle relay team of Maldonado, Cordoba, Richman, and Blakeley broke the school record from 1977

The Beavers made a strong showing at the meet at Delta College.  Garrett Richman swam to a first and two second-place finishes in the individual events, and he also swam a leg on two second-place relay teams.  Richman won the 1650 free with a league record time of 16:23.21, and he took second in the 500 free with a 4:42.33 effort and the 400 IM with a 4:15.08 time.  Brad Babcock finished with two individual second place swims, and he swam on two of the relay teams.  Backcock swam a 21.50 in the 50 free, beating the previous Big 8 standard, but it was only good enough for second place.  He also took second in the 100 free with a time of 46.98.  In the relays, ARC had three second-place runs.  In the 200 free relay, Robert Blakeley, Sebastian Cordoba, Devin Brizzee, and Babcock turned in a time of 1:25.66, which beat the Big 8 mark but was more than a second behind first-place Diablo Valley.  In the 800 free relay, Cordoba, Chris Maldonado, Richman, and Blakeley combined for a time of 7:10.49 and second place.  In the final relay, the 400 free, Cordoba, Richman, Blakeley, and Babcock were clocked in 3:11.19.

With four of the top teams in the conference, four of the fastest men’s teams competed at Santa Rosa.  Swimming against the host Bear Cubs, Diablo Valley, and Sierra, the Beavers swam well and continued to show overall improvement as they prepare for the Big 8 Championships in late April. 

The Beavers finished fifth in the two-day event in San Luis Obispo.  Garret Richman won three events (the 1650 free, 550 free, and 400 IM), Brad Babcock won the 100 free, Chris Maldonado was third in the 200 back, and Devin Brizzee was third in the 200 breast.  The relay team of Babcock, Ryan Laskowski, Maldonado and Blakeley set a new ARC record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:27.40, and the four remaining unbroken relay team records are within site of this year’s teams.

february 29 – march 1, 2008

Mt. SAC Invitational 

The Beavers took fourth out of 22 teams, led by a first-place finish in the 200 free relay.  Other solid performances were turned in by Brad Babcock, Sebastian Cordoba, Chris Maldonado, Garrett Richaman, and Devin Brizzee.  The strong showing down south increased ARC’s hopes of a strong showing in the State Meet and a possible Top 10 ranking.

february 22-23, 2008

 Panther Invitational

The Beavers were able to avoid the bad weather with an indoor meet.  Garrett Richman turned in the strongest performances of the day in the 1600 and 500 freestyle.

february 9, 2008

 NorCal Relays

The Beavers brought home some hardware, finishing third in the competitive meet at Santa Rosa.