Alex Beaver

College: Golden West

Sport: Swimming

Class: Sophomore

There was no question that the State Swimming Championships at Hartnell College in Salinas was the biggest competition of Beaver’s life. He had left high school at 16 and was out of swimming for two years before enrolling at Golden West in the fall of 1991.

Beaver responded well to the pressure this weekend. He was the only competitor to win three individual events and was selected as the meet’s outstanding male swimmer.

Beaver showed his stroke versatility by winning the 200 and 400 individual medleys. His time in the 200 was 1 minute 52.98 seconds. His 400 time was 4:03.98. Beaver took first in the 200 butterfly (1:55.53).

Beaver also joined Rafael Guijarro, Sean Lemm and Beau McCraney on the winning 800 freestyle team.

Golden West won 13 of the 18 events in winning its fourth State title in the last nine years.

Other top performers:

Max Alvarez of Saddleback won the the Orange Empire Conference tennis singles title and teamed with Nils Schyllander to take the doubles title.

Phil Jensen pitched a five-hitter with eight strikeouts as Orange Coast beat Cypress, 7-1.