On Friday, Feb. 22 the Oakdale High School swim team hosted their season opener. Manteca came to town for the first swim meet of the season and it was a record breaking day for the Mustangs.

All three Oakdale teams earned wins over the visitors. For the varsity boys, it was a 116-54 runaway. The varsity girls team earned a 120-50 victory and the junior varsity girls won 74-12.

It was a record setting day for junior Ethan Perry, who had the biggest impact in the pool. Perry set a school record in the 100 backstroke event. A record that was held by Hank Walter in 2010; Perry broke the record by nearly three full seconds. In 2010 Walter completed the race in 57.18 seconds, and Perry completed it in 55.78 in front of his family, family and teammates.

“I’m so happy right now,” said Perry. “This is the first meet of the season and this is right where I want to be, swimming wise.”

Perry’s big day continued when he beat his personal best in the 200 IM. In 2018 Perry finished the 200 IM in 2:05.40 and on Friday he completed it in 2:04.52. This was good enough for first place in the race and third all time in school history. Along with his brother Stash, Aron Cameron and Chandler Neal, Perry helped the team earn a first place finish in the 200 medley relay. The foursome finished the race in 1:44.16. The speedy time is now the fifth fastest time in the event in school history. The four followed up with a first place finish in the 400 freestyle relay at a time of 3:29.01, good enough for seventh on the Oakdale all-time list.

Neal also had a big day as an individual when he took first place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.80. He also placed first in the 100 freestyle at 54.44.

Rounding out other first place finishers for the varsity boys were Cameron in the 100 breaststroke at 1:03.84; Stash Perry in the 500 freestyle at 5:10.52 (seventh all time in school history), and Tyler Gross in the 200 freestyle at 2:27.08.

For the ladies, it was a big day for Haley Rivera. She took first place in the 100 freestyle.

“It’s emotional to be competing in your final opening meet,” said the senior Rivera.

In other events Kassidy Houck placed first in the 500 freestyle, and she was also on the first place 200 medley relay team along with Bre Campbell, Hannah Lee and Ashlynn See.

On Saturday, March 9, Oakdale hosts the annual March Madness meet, with a scheduled start time of 9 a.m.