Valley Star

Issue date: 5/4/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Greg Burmann Greg Burmann / Valley Star OFF THE DEEP END - Valley swimmer Ariga Hacopian is contrbuting to the cause as three Monarchs´ swimmers advance to State Finals.

Three Valley College swimmers qualified for the state championships this weekend to be held at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hills, California.



Matt Alberti qualified for the state championship in the 200-yard individual medley, the 400-yard individual medley and the 200-yard backstroke. Matt's sister, Valentine Alberti, earned a spot in the state races in the 50-yard, 100-yard and the 200-yard freestyle events.

"As a team we did very well," said Valentine "Our hard work paid off at the end."

"The three of them are talented swimmers and they deserve to be there," said Head Coach Jim McMillan. "Our goal is to have these guys to swim the best time in their lives. If they make it to final good, if they don't we just want them to try their best."

Megan Winchell, who qualified for state in the 50-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard breaststroke, said, "This was an amazing season for me, I had my lifetime best this season."

Winchell took second place in the 50-yeard breaststroke at the Western State Conference Championships held this past weekend at Cuesta College. The men took third place at the conference championships with a total of 505 points and the women finished fifth with 387 points.

"It [the season] went very well and above expectations," said McMillan. "I think you judge a season by how well your student athletes do. Every single person had their personal best in the conference meet."

McMillan credited the help of his assistant coaches for the successful season.

"This was a much better season for us," said Krauss, an assistant coach. "We are really looking forward for the state championship."

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