CSM tops Coast Conference in state championship berths
By Terry Bernal Daily Journal
Kawei Tan walks it like he talks it — or, more like, swims it like he talks it.
The College of San Mateo sophomore led a banner performance by the Bulldogs at the Coast Conference Swim and Dive Championships Thursday through Saturday at De Anza College.
As a freshman last season, Tan was state champion in the 100-yard backstroke, becoming the first CSM swimmer since 1966 to capture a state title. By capturing seven Coast Conference gold medals, he will have several chances to repeat as state champ this season.
"He's the best swimmer I've ever had," CSM swimming coach Randy Wright said. "It's the first state champion at CSM in 50 years; how does he get better?"
All told, CSM won 13 gold medals at the three-day event. Tan opened with three wins on Day One last Thursday, topping the podium in the 200 freestyle relay, the 400 free relay and the 200 individual medley. Friday, on Day Two, he took first in the 200 medley relay and the 100 back. Saturday, he rounded out his seven-for-seven run at gold with wins in the 400 free relay and the 200 back.
Tan's seven gold medals were the most of any individual at the meet. He was named the meet's Most Outstanding Swimmer for the second year in a row. He also led CSM's medal sweep in the 200 back.
The state championships will be held April 30 to May 2 at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park. It will mark the end of Tan's historic two-year career at CSM. He is set to transfer to UC San Diego next season.
Tan admittedly doesn't lack for confidence. But he has been a catalyst for the Bulldogs' team unity, despite CSM lacking the depth to compete on the team stage. Instead, the team has sewn the seeds of individual talent aplenty.
"He's an alpha dog, sure," Wright said. "But he's there to root on every swimmer. He's there to pick up any person on the team. It's what you want. It's what I look for. … It's sad that we only have one more [meet] together. But that's the nature of the sport."
The CSM men's relay team personifies the importance of Tan's presence. Tan, Josh Yeager, Jake Folan and Javier Rosas were a perfect four for four on the Coast Conference stage after finding quick chemistry with one another this season. Tan and Yeager have been swimming together for six years now.
Both were standouts at Burlingame, where Tan was a three-time Peninsula Athletic League champion. Now Folan (a former Serra standout) and Rosas (a former Boys' Athlete of the Year at Hillsdale) have completed one of the most prolific foursomes of any of their respective careers. It's all about one thing, according to Folan.
"Chemistry," Folan said. "You've got to be able to mesh with your team. It doesn't matter what sport you're playing, you're not going to do well (without it). Swimming seems like an individual sport, but it's just as much as a team sport as anything else."
The foursome won the 200 free relay last Thursday with a time of 1 minute, 27.06 seconds. They followed that in the 400 medley relay with a 3:34.46. Last Friday, they topped the field in the 200 medley relay with a 1:35.69. Saturday they celebrated a victory in the final match of the meet with a 3:10.94 in the 400 free relay.
Tan won an individual gold per day as well, topping the field in the 200 IM last Thursday with a time of 1:56.62. Saturday, he won the 200 back with a 1:54.62. But all eyes were on his swim last Friday, sandwiched between the other two victories, when he won his signature event with a 51.75 in the 100 back.
"There's some fast dogs coming after my title," Tan said of his outlook on the state championships. "I'm the defending champion and I'm going to fight."
Rosas and Yeager claimed an individual gold apiece as well. Rosas won the 200 free last Friday with a time of 1:44.37. The 19-year-old Yeager was a hit Saturday with a 1:57.38 for victory in the 200 fly.
At last season's state championships, Yeager took eighth in the 200 back. He also placed in the top 16 in each the 100 fly and the 200 fly.
"For this year I'm a little bit faster, especially in the 100 butterfly," Yeager said. "It's just incredible swimming for so long, you're still able to drop time."
CSM's men's silver medals were won by: Rosas in the 50 free, Yeager in the 100 fly, Aaron Lee in the 200 back, and Sean Doker. The Bulldogs also claimed silver in the 800 free relay with a team of Doker, Aaron Lee, Zach Zorndorff and Linus Li. CSM's men's bronze medals were won by: Lee in the 400 IM and Yeager in the 200 back.
The CSM women celebrated four gold medals, with freshman Morgan Smith having a hand in each. The freshman out of El Camino topped the podium in the 50 free with a time of 24.76. Saturday, she scored an upset by winning the 100 fly with a 58.41. Smith entered the 100 fly as the No. 3 seed in what has been her specialty event since she started swimming at the age of 7.
"I was really nervous and I was really jumpy about it," Smith said. "I was just ready to swim. I was ready to go. I'm happy it showed in the end and that I got my best time."
Smith also shared in the Lady Bulldogs' two relay gold medals. The team of Smith, Libby Massari, Haley Leong and Molly McEvoy took first in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:44.05. They also won the 400 free relay with a 3:49.45.
The women's relay team also took bronze in the 400 medley relay. CSM's women's individual silver medals went to Smith in the 50 free and Leong in the 400 IM. CSM's women's individual bronze medal was won by Leong in the 200 back.