Men's Swimming won three of the last four events to claim last Friday's Western State Conference five-team Mini Meet in Santa Barbara over local rival Allan Hancock.  The Cougars claimed four runner-up finished in the first six events, before winning three of the last four to blowout local rival Allan Hancock, 166 to 112.  When it was all said and done, Cuesta owned more than 40% of the available 394 points scored.  All Americans and reigning 2022 Western State Conference co-Swimmers of the Year Stash Perry and Andrew Lopez (pict-L)each won an event, before the Cougars closed out the meet with a dominant 12 second victory in the 800-free relay finale.  Perry, with a time of :48.12, led a pack of four Cougars in the top 6 places of the 100-freeestyle, while Lopez edged Allan Hancock's Jericho Orcinoo by 0.29 seconds.  Lopez also had some back-uop and was trailed by teammates Zachary O'Connor and Dante Ianora (pict-R), who finished 3rd and 4th in the race.  While the spotlight shined on All Americans Perry and Lopez, it was Cuesta Freshman Matthew Wheeler (pict-L) and Allan Hancock's All American Max Pecile that tied with a meet-high 18 individual points.  Wheeler did the yeoman's work in three of the meet's least popular events and, from the shadows, led the Cougars to the win.  Wheeler posted runner-up finishes in both 1-meter diving (154.55) and the 1,650-freestyle (19:57.85), while earning 5th place in the 200-butterfly (2:45.15).

Swimming travels to the Pasadena Invitational this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  The invitational is the Cougars final competition before the three-day 2023 Western State Conference Meet begins April 20 in Van Nuys.