Men's Swimming's quest for a CCCAA State Championship and an undefeated season came up just short as the Cougars settled for 3rd place at the State Meet.  The Aqua-Cats' placing marked their highest team finish in twenty years, when they posted back-to-back runners-up finishes in 2001 and 2002.  Cuesta Athletics remains without a CCCAA State Championship since Women's Volleyball finished a two-year run in 1985 and 1986, but swimming is on track to break through soon.  The Cougars did not claim an event at the meet, but scored in 17 of the 18 individual swimming events, while also reaching the championship finals in 14.  Reigning Cuesta College Athlete of the Year Lucas Esenwein led the Cougars with 45 individual points and broke Cuesta's 100-freestyle record in :45.17.  Esenwein's fellow tri-Western State Conference Swimmers of the Year Stash Perry and Andrew Lopez did not break any of their own records, but added 44 and 40 points, respectively.  The trio currently owns eight of Cuesta's 18 all time event records.  Sophomore Caleb Ray, who followed Perry in all three distance freestyles, added 32 points, while Ethan Perry also reached double-digits with 15 points.  All five of the Cougars' star swimmers are expected to earn All-America honors when final times are merged with the NJCAA to create the nation's Top 16.  

Cuesta Men's Swimming Top 10 State Finishes (since 1990) 

1991(7th), 1992 (5th), 1993 (3rd), 1994 (4th), 1995 (2nd), 1997 (7th), 1998 (3rd), 1999 (5th), 2000 (4th), 2001 (2nd), 2002 (2nd), 2012 (9th), 2013 (4th), 2014 (7th), 2018 (7th), 2022 (3rd)