IRSC swim team sweeps 2021 NJCAA Swimming and Diving National Championship

news release

The Indian River State College (IRSC) Swimming and Diving Team took possession of two new national titles and earned multiple individual recognitions at the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Swimming and Diving National Championships held at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce on April 28 through May 1.

NJCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving at Indian River State College. Victoria Ortiz won the 1000 yard freestyle Photographed on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, on the Massey Campus in Fort Pierce.

The Men’s team earned 1,340 team points and the Women’s team earned 1,374 team points— both securing record-setting titles and earning first-place finishes in over 25 events including every event relay race. This unrivaled performance extends the longest unbroken U.S. championship-winning streak in any sport at the collegiate level to 47 consecutive Men’s swim titles and 39 consecutive Women’s swim titles (43 overall women’s titles).

“We are proud of our swimmers and their outstanding performance in the pool and on the diving board. They’ve demonstrated the drive and commitment that are hallmarks of students at The River.” shares Scott Kimmelman, IRSC Athletics Director. “We are thankful to everyone both at IRSC and the NJCAA for making this meet possible and allowing student-athletes from all over the nation to come together in the spirit of athletic comradery.”

In addition to their championship titles the IRSC Swim team earned numerous individual recognitions. Aramis Rivera was named 2021 NJCAA Male Swimmer of the Year. Rivera was the leading point-scorer, earning 77 points for the IRSC Men’s team and claiming wins in the 100, 200, and 400 individual medleys, and placing second in the 200 breaststroke. IRSC’s Men’s Diving team member TJ Ray took home first place in both the 3-meter (426.8) and 1-meter (402.35) earning him recognition as the 2021 NJCAA Male Diver of the Year.

Victoria Ortiz and Taryn Dailey share the title of 2021 NJCAA Women’s Swimmer of the Year—winning 4 events each. Ortiz placed first in the 200, 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyles. She additionally set a new IRSC record time of 4:53.59 swimming 500 freestyle. Dailey won the 200 individual medleys, 100 and 200 butterfly, as well as the 100 freestyle. IRSC Women’s Dive team member Lainie Rivas was recognized as 2021 NJCAA Female Diver of the Year.

Additionally, David Suba, IRSC Diving Coach was honored alongside Mike McDowell of Erie Community College as 2021 NJCAA Diving Coach of the Year.

The NJCAA Swimming and Diving National Championships will return to IRSC on March 2-5, 2022.

3 comments

I’m confused! How does IRSC, for years a 4 year, degree granting State College, compete as a junior college?

Mark,
I asked about that and here is their reply:
While IRSC offers Bachelor’s degrees in over 20 programs including accounting, business, nursing, education degrees and more, we compete as a NJCAA Division I two-year college like many other community and state colleges that also offer four year degrees (like Eastern Florida State, Palm Beach State and Santa Fe College for example).

Athletes who are full-time students at IRSC may complete in two seasons in their sport for their freshman and sophomore years. After their first two years as a student at IRSC, should they choose to continue in college athletics, these students would transfer to an NCAA or NAIA school for their junior and senior years. NJCAA competition gives our student-athletes the opportunity to be recognized by NCAA and NAIA schools that might not have otherwise recruited them as well as demonstrate their dedication to their sport and their ability to balance life as a student athlete.