[ Golden Gater Online - March 18, 1997 ]
Keith B. Orchard
Staff writer
When five SF State swimmers arrived at the NCAA National Championship Meet last week they were awestruck by what they saw as strong competition, but by the time they left, they were All-Americans.
SF State swim coach Bruce Brown watched from the sidelines in San Antonio, Texas, as his swimmers battled the intense competition, going from 17th place the first day to a 13th place finish.
"This was one of the most enjoyable trips I've had to nationals," said Brown, who was recently named Men's Coach of the Year by the Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference. "Our team started out shaky, but they adapted and responded well to the (competitive) environment."
Senior Gator Chris Culp, the only SF State swimmer to qualify for individual races, set two school records: 58.29 seconds in the 100-meter breaststroke and 2:7.65 the 200-meter breaststroke. He finished 10th in both events.
"I was pretty impressed because the competition was tough," Culp said. "All of the swimmers would hit the wall at the same time and you didn't know if you finished first or last."
For all five Gator swimmers it was the first visit to a national competition. They said it was a nerve-splitting event, and nothing like anything they had ever seen before.
"The competition was tough," said Dismas Locaria, the freestyle medley lead-off swimmer. "All the swimmers were fast. Every tick (second), every breath, and every armstroke counted."
First out in the three-day competition was the medley team, which didn't finish as strong as they hoped. After two days of competition, SF State had completed four races and were in 15th place. That's when they decided to concentrate and focus with more intensity.
"We sucked it up and put everything behind us," Locaria said. " We swam our hearts out and it was worth it."
Locaria joined Gators Noel Dokken, Mike Tilburg and Ray Florentinus to compete in four medley events -- the 200-meter, 200-freestyle, 400-freestyle and the 800- freestyle.
They set school records in the 800 -and 400-meter freestyle medleys, placing 8th in the 800-meter with the time 6:58.84 and 10th in the 400-meter with 3:07.85.
"We destroyed our old record in the 800-freestyle medley by something like 13 seconds," Locaria said.
After the competition the All-Americans stood on the pool deck and heard the national anthem while receiving their awards.
"It was awesome," Locaria said.
Culp, in his last competition meet of his college life, said it was a good way to end.
"I ended on a good note," he said.
All SF State swimmers were excited about the experience, and said they were already preparing for next season.
"This event makes you feel like a winner. You want to stay a winner and that makes you want to go back next year," Dokken said.
This was the first time in 12 years SF State's swim team qualified for the nationals. Brown, who has been to the nationals before but never with SF State, was proud of his swimmers.
"This was the most responsible group that I've taken with me," Brown said.
Brown's support was felt by the swimmers as they gave their best efforts in the meet.
"Coach Brown is 100-percent positive, and he doesn't let you get down on yourself," Culp said.
[ Golden Gater - March 18, 1997 ]