Two Indian River Sophomores Go Big Times on 2014 NJCAA Day 2

An hour-long weather delay at Indian River State College’s Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex couldn’t slow down the host team, as for the second straight day they swept the titles at the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association Championship meet.

Junior Colleges typically only serve the first two years of collegiate athletes’ careers, before they transfer to four year institutions either to continue their educations alone, or to continue both their educations and athletic careers.

There were two big swims by Indian River sophomores on Thursday who are preparing to take their next steps. One of them is uncommitted, and the other isn’t.

In the men’s 200 IM, uncommitted Alec Scott swam a 1:48.41. That’s not only a four second drop from what he was at this meet last year, but it’s almost ten seconds better than he was coming out of high school. Scott is the Junior College story – he came out of high school without Division I caliber times and considered dropping the sport, but in three years (two at Indian River plus a gap year) he’s worked his way into a Division I caliber performer.

Coming in 2nd in that race was Josh Outhout in 1:50.13.

Another swimmer who has made huge improvements at Indian River is sophomore Rebecca Derogatis, who won the women’s 50 free in 22.93. She’s headed to Florida Gulf Coast in the fall to become their third sub-23 seconds sprinter. During her senior year in high school, she was a 24.47 in the 50 free. Last year, as a freshman, she dropped half-a-second, and now she’s dropped another one.

That broke the 2011 record set by Mallory Morrell – who would later go on to be an All-American at Division I Buffalo.

That was another Indian River 1-3, including Patricia Casellas (23.72) and Olivia Sims (24.20).

In the opposite events, Indian River’s Stefan Stojmenovic won the men’s 50 free in 20.59, followed by Bryce Timonera (20.71) and a tie for 3rd between Michael Ragan (20.78) and Spencer Williams (20.78). Indian River went 1-5 in that event.

The women’s 200 IM went to freshman Barbara Caraballo, who was never challenged in this race en route to a 2:01.69. She had fantastic butterfly and breaststroke legs.

Indian River’s Josefine Hippi won the women’s 500 free in 4:56.51, besting teammates Georgina Allin (5:02.57) and Rebecca Halfast (5:09.03).

The men’s 500 free was won by freshman Roland Santos (4:33.94), with Matt Rojas (4:34.04) and Evan Jacob (4:35.62) placing 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Led off by a 22.98 from Derogatis, Indian River swam a 1:33.33 to win the 200 free relay – and just miss the National Record by four-tenths of a second. Darton College and South Georgia College, who are two of the three teams battling for 2nd-place at this meet, tied in 1:42.24.

Indian River’s men’s relay was a 1:21.25 to win the men’s 200 free relay, with the team of Spencer Williams, Stefan Stojmenovic, Bryce Timonera, and Michael Ragan.

Team Scoring

Women

1. Indian River State College – 630
2. Darton College – 291
3. Iowa Lakes CC – 289
4. South Georgia State College – 276
5. Monroe CC – 225
6. Ocean County College – 197
7. Suny Selhi – 150
8. Herkimer County CC – 146
9. Jamestown CC – 137
10. FIT – 34
11. Lincoln College – 22
12. Genesee CC – 15
13. Mercyhurst NE – 5

Men

1. Indian River State College – 611
2. Darton College – 344
3. Iowa Lakes CC – 329
4. South Georgia State College – 319
5. Monroe CC – 275
6. Ocean County College – 207
7. Suny Delhi – 129
8. Genesee CC – 98
9. Lincoln College – 54
10. Jamestown CC – 46

Full, live meet results available here.