The men’s swim team won the state championships with a score of 488 last weekend at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, narrowly beating out Ventura College by 54 points.

The championship was the first men’s title since 2003, and all 10 swimmers contributed to the point total.

The women’s team placed No. 4 with a score of 360.5, 90 points behind Santa Rosa Junior College.

The women’s 400 freestyle relay team won the state championship with a time of 3:37.75.

Natalie Bierwith, Kimberly Bierwith, Jenelle Roullier, and Lauren Brown beat Ventura College by only a hundredth of a second.

DVC also set two national records.

Chasen Nick, Steven Woods, Joe Natina, and Donny Mata combined to swim the 400 style relay with a time of 3:01.36.

The men’s 200 freestyle relay was named the state performance of the year, with Natina, Mata, and Murray Hannan winning on the first day with a time of 1:21.72.

Matta placed first in the 200-yard backstroke, swimming the event in 1:50.70 and beating teammate Nick by less than two seconds.

Woods and Natina both finished second in their respective events, with Woods swimming the 100 freestyle in 45.13 seconds and Natina finishing the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:52.13.

“We all worked together,” said Thomas Pearson. “Nobody has ever lost conference (championships) and won state.”

Kimberly Bierwith was named the state women’s swimmer of the year. She won an individual event by placing first in the 100 backstroke with a time a of 57.86 seconds.

“It feels great,” Bierwith said. “(Rick) Millington made me a better swimmer by motivating me to go to practice.”

After being named men’s coach of the year for the Big 8 conference a week ago, Millington was named state men’s coach of the year.

“Both men and the women swam well,” he said. “Across the board all of our swimmers

placed higher than where they were seeded.”

Millington also talked about how the team stayed motivated all season. “All of our swimmers were very focused and goal oriented,” he said.

The swimmers credited their success to Millington’s ability to make them work hard.

“We have practice everday and even on saturdays,” says Anthony Pennisi. “The practices are very efficient and focused.”