Posted: May 05, 2026

Long Beach Another New South Coast State Champ In Women's Swimming

One year after Mt. San Antonio became a first-time, 3C2A state champion as a member of the South Coast Conference, Long Beach City College captured its first title in women's swimming to make it two in a row from the conference. The Vikings scored 500.5 points in the state meet held April 30-May 2 at Orange Coast College.

They outdistanced runner-up Santa Barbara City (310) and third-place Mt. SAC (304). LBCC won four of the five relays to put up huge points, led by Co-Swimmer of the Meet in Samira Samaan, who won the 200 and 500 freestyle golds and was on all four relay champion swims.

The SCC won its seventh state title in women's swimming and first since former member Golden West won in 2000.

"The best feeling I've had as a coach," LBCC head coach and Coach of the Year Bradley Adamson said of the first-time title by the school. "It's monumental for our program, for our college, and it shows a lot about the support we get from everyone, and I'm just really proud of our whole team. This group of women are so strong, and they're having the best time doing it."

"Samira is everything, in terms of energy, in terms of talent, and she's just a true competitor, which is so good to see. This year, her competitive drive went to the next level. I used to coach her as an age grouper back in the day so to be able to coach her now, it's kind of a full-circle moment for both of us."

Carolyn Kao swam on three relays, took second in the 200 free and third in the 50 free. Devon Fletcher was on three relays and Avery White (third in the 400 individual medley) on two. Kao had the distinction of swimming on two state champion teams in two years after participating as a freshman for Mt. SAC before transferring to Long Beach in her sophomore year.

Also with a strong representation of the South Coast was Mt. SAC's Spencer Damaske, who was a double state champ, winning the 200 and 400 IM events. Mountie Autumn Moya grabbed the silver in the 1,650 freestyle.

The South Coast has collected 128 state crowns in women's sports and three in the 2025-26 season including Long Beach water polo and Mt. SAC cross country.

Release by Robert Lewis, SCC SID, quotes courtesy of 3C2A