CSM’s Erica Vong Outstanding Swimmer of Coast Championships

April 26, 2016

Morgan Smith's 100 Fly Top Performance of Meet

Coast Conference Swimming Championships,

Finals Day 3, April 23, at Las Positas College:

College of San Mateo results:
Gold Medal Winner:
Erica Vong, women's 200 back 2:04.44 (Coast Conference Record)
Silver Medal Winners:
Women's 400 free relay, 3:40.26 (Erica Vong, Gabby Montoya, Brittani Byrne, Morgan Smith)
Morgan Smith, women's 200 fly, 2:08.19
Gabby Montoya, women's 200 breast, 2:33.21
Javier Rosas, men's 100 Free, 46.40
Bronze Medal Winner:
Isabella Paragas, women's 200 back, 2:27.02

Most Outstanding Swimmer of the meet: Erica Vong, CSM
Top performance of meet: Morgan Smith, CSM, 100 fly

Final Day Recap from CSM Coach Randy Wright:
"The CSM swim team finished the regular season fast -- with room to improve in two weeks for the State Championships (at East Los Angeles College).

Our relay team was on a run and today was no different, except for one turn. It rarely happens but Gabby (Montoya) opened her flip too early and was only able to plant one foot on the wall, leaving her other foot in the gutter. She came away with a scrape and it cost us at least two seconds. We will now have to wait for States in order to attempt a conference record sweep. Credit must be given to Foothill. They pushed us all meet, swam without mistakes and got a much deserving win."

Erica Vong won the high point award as the meet's Most Outstanding Swimmer, finishing first in all three (individual) events.

Erica did it again. She set the conference record in the 200 back. She now holds conference records in the 50, 100 and 200 back.
Morgan Smith was touched out in the most exciting event of the day, the 200 fly. Both girls destroyed the conference records. Morgan needed to hold her streamline on the final lap for two additional kicks to win. She ranks second in the state and is completely aware of what needs to be done in two weeks. With her swim and our relay today, it's clear the girls aren't satisfied. The girls really want to win, I think coming up short today may be a better motivator than the success of the first two days."

Finally, the surprise of the day has to be Isabella Paragas winning the bronze in the 200 back. We had an idea about what it would take to medal, but there were three faster girls she would need to beat. Dropping four seconds it came down to the finish and she got the touch. It's not always the gold medal that equates to success, but the drive to be something more, to defy the odds, and to accomplish the unthinkable made her race my moment of the day."

This concludes the regular season,

We'll provide an update of who will be competing at State Finals next week.

Erica Vong, Morgan Smith, Gabby Montoya and the women's relays have punched their tickets. We have a few more on the bubble.

The California Community College Athletic Association State Championships are at East Los Angeles College, May 5-7."

Coast Conference Swimming Championships: Finals Day 2, April 22; at Las Positas College
College of San Mateo results;

Gold Medal winners
Women's 200 Medley Relay, 1:49.58, (Erica Vong, Gabby Montoya, Brittani Byrne, Morgan Smith) (Conference Record)
Morgan Smith, women's 100 fly, 57.67, (Conference Record)
Erica Vong, women's 100 back, 56.54
Silver Medal winner:
Javier Rosas, men's 200 free, 1:45.35
Bronze Medal winner:
Gabby Montoya, women's 100 breast, 1:10.08

Second Day recap from CSM Coach Randy Wright

"Another record setting day for the CSM women: We were excited about the 200 medley relay today. Erica Vong had a great leadoff 50 back and set a new conference record with a time of 26.31. The rest was history as the girls broke the record by four seconds. Erica was just off her conference record winning the 100 back. Gabby Montoya raced herself into State Finals placing third in the 100 breast."

The story of the day was sophomore All American Morgan Smith, who broke the record dating back to 1987 in the 100 fly. A year ago Morgan and I talked about the ultimate goal of getting a .57 in the 100 fly. For her to accomplish it today was special, a moment we both will not forget. Morgan Smith is ranked 2nd in the State and will race for glory in two weeks."

Coast Conference Swimming Championships: Finals Day 1, April 21; at Las Positas College
College of San Mateo results;

Gold Medal winners:
Women's 200 free relay: 1:38.92 (Erica Vong, Gabby Montoya, Brittani Byrne, Morgan Smith) (Conference Record)
Women's 400 medley relay: 4:00.77 (same team) *Conference Record
Erica Vong, women's 200 IM - 2:10.77
Bronze Medal winners:
Men's 200 free relay, 1:28.78, (Javier Rosas, Perry Cheney, David Leong, Jack Dillane)
Morgan Smith, women's 50 free, 24.93
Jack Dillane, men's 50 free, 21.47

First Day Recap from CSM Coach Randy Wright:
"A historic day as the CSM women smashed two conference relay records. We talked a lot about legacy, breaking all five relay records has never been accomplished and is very special. We have three, now two to go! CSM broke records dating back to 1978. The 200 free relay improved the mark by two seconds, while the 400 medley beat the record by six seconds. The girls broke the 800 free relay in March at the CSM invite. The girls are close in both the 200 medley and the 400 free. It's amazing how goal oriented they are, I believe it will either happen this week or in two weeks at States.

Erica Vong improved her state leading time in the 200 IM to win gold. The success of Erica has continued all season. Today, success was team wide. The time drops were amazing. Sophomore Perry Cheney and freshman Jack Dillane going 21 (seconds) in the 50 free was tremendous. Neither had been close, and today it just clicked."