[ Golden Gater Online - October 14, 1997 ]
Keith B. Orchard
Staff writer
Sitting in SF State's gym, a group of students are cheering on the volleyball team. "G...G...G-A-T. O...O...O-R-S. G-A-T...O-R-S. Go, Gators!"
On another day, the same chant was heard at Cox Stadium during a women's soccer game.
This high-spirited group turns out to be none other than the SF State men's and women's swimming teams, whose enthusiasm carried over from last year's 13th-place NCAA finish helped beat UC Davis in their season opener Saturday at the SF State's main pool.
"We love to do that stuff. Everyone's working hard and knowing we went to nationals last year, there's the idea that we can do it again," said sophomore Ray Florentinus, who helped set two school records in the 400 and 800-meter freestyle medley with Dismas Locaria, Mike Tilburg and Noel Dokken at last year's nationals.
Florentinus anchored Saturday's 200 medley relay against the Aggies and though behind a body length, came from behind to win the race.
"The entire pool deck was watching, and I just out-touched the other guy [by hitting the wall first]," he said. "The intensity was tremendous."
Individual men's highlights included another strong performance from Dokken by clinching three first-place finishes. The first was in the 200-yard medley relay with Florentinus and the others in the 100 and 200-yard freestyle with the times of 47.46 seconds and 1:45.65, respectively.
The men's team also took first, second and third place in the 50-yard freestyle en route to the 118-85 victory over UC Davis. This is the second time the Gators have beaten the Aggies, with wins in back-to-back years.
The women's team lost 148-52 to the Aggies but not without an outstanding performance from freshman Amber Nishimoto who took first place in the 200-yard Intermediate Medley and 200-yard backstroke.
On the sidelines and out of uniform, Chris Culp, the only individual competitor for the Gators at last year's NCAA championship, has become the assistant coach.
"I was more nervous today than I ever was as a swimmer," Culp said.
Also returning for his ninth year with the Gators was Bruce Brown, who was last year's Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference Coach of the Year.
"Everyone supports each other and there's a lot of team spirit," Brown said. "This season I'd like to move past the conference and take it from there."
His confidence has carried to the student-athletes who have raised the roof at the main pool and throughout the school.
"The men's and women's swim team has been, and continues to be, an inspiration and invaluable source of school spirit for Gator athletics as well as the fans," said sports information director Steve Quintero, who's seen the swimmers at many Gator events. "Simply put, they know how to have fun."
[ Golden Gater - October 14, 1997 ]