By Joe Perrino, Sports Information Assistant
LA VERNE — In the first meet of the new year, La Verne's Swimming & Diving team took multiple top-3 finishes against SCIAC rival Chapman at Las Flores Park on Saturday, Jan 8.
Sam Szok crushed her field full of Panthers in the women's 500 yard freestyle. The senior completed the race at 5:46, over two seconds faster than the second place finisher.
The other La Verne first place finish came in the men's 100 yard butterfly when sophomore Asher Kocalis completed the race in 55 seconds for the win.
Some Leos came up just short of first, but still put up great fights for second and third. Dual sport star Alyssa Ono finished second in the women's 50 yard freestyle. The men's relay teams finished in second place in both the medley and freestyle. To round out the second place finishes, Alondra Camacho snagged her spot in the women's 200 backstroke — finishing only .19 seconds behind the winner.
Raymond Thai took third for the Leos in the men's 100 freestyle.
The Leo's will return to the pool this Friday, Jan 14., at Las Flores Park when they host Mills College and The Masters College in a dual meet.
