CUPERTINO, CALIF. — In competitive swimming, tech suits serve as performance boosters: reducing drag, compressing muscles and improving efficiency. It can be enough to deliver a 2% to 3% edge over a standard suit.
That’s why freshman Filuka Houborg, who was confident she could win yet another 1,650-yard freestyle, went into a panic just minutes before the race.
Houborg approached her bag under the Las Positas tents, where the rest of her team sat, waiting for events to resume after lunch. There were cookies, conversations and laughter. The scene felt perfect.
Nothing was out of place. Except for the tech suit Houborg left at home.
She stared at her empty bag in disbelief. Her demeanor shifted. The most important race of her season, set to fight for a conference championship title she already believed to be hers, was cast into doubt.
“It was very stressful,” Houborg said. “I’m wearing a suit I’ve never worn before, and I put it on very close to starting.”
Ten minutes felt like 20. She scrambled to find a suit before the race, reluctant to use the standard one she had packed. Then it hit her — assistant coach Kelly Gentry was her best bet. She always came prepared.
Sure enough, Gentry pulled out a white tech suit in Houborg’s size. Relief.
She was able to get it on 20 minutes before the race. Just enough time to warm up.
The nerves eased. When she dove into the race, it only took 10 of 66 laps to get a lead over all other competitors. Houborg went on to clear the competition, winning by one minute and 23.65 seconds.
The Las Positas College swim and dive team delivered a riveting performance at the Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, held at De Anza College in Cupertino. The women’s team took first place with 830 points, and the men’s took second with 728, trailing behind DeAnza by 153 points.
It’s back-to-back titles for the women, and the second year in a row the men fall short. The Hawks have now won seven women’s conference championships since their inaugural season in 2010.
Leading the charge was Houborg and sophomore Samantha Fehr, who combined for eight wins and 14 podium finishes. It was sophomore Logan Borreli and Nathanael Ridosko for the men — the only ones to win an event.
The length of this season has been a setup for the entire team’s success — not just the point leaders. Head coach Jason Craighead strategized by putting swimmers in events they aren’t used to in order to sharpen potentially dull skills. The meet results demonstrated that to win championships, the team must function as a collective, not through minimal star power.
“Championships aren’t won with just the fast swimmers,” Craighead said. “The greatest athletes. You know, it takes a whole team.”
Every contribution mattered. Multiple Hawks athletes — who may not have ranked among the top performers — pulled through in events that were weaker at the start of the season. They supported the team’s overall success.
Now, the Hawks’ attention turns towards the state championships. Their conference performance offered a glimpse of the possibilities for their state run. A chance to add more coveted hardware to end their season.
“Everybody’s important for state because everybody scores,” Craighead said. “People will be ranked higher than others, but everybody’s important when we go.”
Fehr put together a dominant meet, leading in her signature breaststroke events while contributing across relays. She swept both the 100- and 200-yard breast, improving from prelims to finals with winning times of 1:06.30 and 2:24.69.
“I definitely have gone farther in swimming than I ever planned to,” Fehr said. “Or ever thought I would.”
In the 50-yard free, she placed third overall with a solid drop from prelims to finals — 26.94 to 26.22. Fehr was a key relay swimmer, helping secure first in both medley relays with strong breaststroke splits — 29.28 and 1:06.58 — and added second-place finishes in the freestyle relays, including a personal best 57.96 leadoff in the 400-yard free relay.
Houborg’s dramatic mile victory came with a strong all-around performance, highlighted by major improvements in finals and dominance in distance events. After a solid prelim swim in the 200-yard free at 2:01.56, she dropped to a personal best of 1:56.58 to win. Houborg followed a similar pattern in the 500-yard free, cutting significant time to post a 5:07.05 PB and finish second.
“I’m very happy with it,” Houborg said. “I’m very happy with my 5-(yard) free too. Even though I didn’t win, that’s fine. I got a new best.”
She also showed endurance with a season-best of 10:56.60 in the 1000-yard free and a first-place finish in her mile. Houborg was a major contributor in relays, anchoring and leading multiple teams to top-two finishes. She proved her versatility and ability to perform when it mattered most.
Ridosko and Borrelli delivered a powerful combination of distance, strength and versatility across events. Ridosko dominated the meet with multiple wins, taking first in the 100-, 200- (1:41.02 PB), 500- and 1,650-free. He added season-best swims in the 1000-yard free and showed his ability to surge in finals.
Borrelli matched that impact with a strong all-around showing, winning the 200-yard back with a big drop to a season best 1:55.72. He placed second in the 200-yard fly and competed across challenging events like the 200-yard individual medley. He also posted a PB of 1:47.30 in the 800-yard free relay leadoff.
Both swimmers contributed key relay splits, consistently boosting their teams to top finishes. They highlighted their importance as reliable, high-impact performers heading into championship season.
Across the team, there were many new personal bests, dropped times and standout efforts that contributed points to the board. It showed the team’s overall depth and consistency.
Caroline Guidi led the individual medley group with a standout 400-yard IM (5:08.19 PB, second) and 200-yard IM (2:22.78 PB, third), while also placing second in the 200-yard fly. Saveta Holunga contributed in sprint fly and IM events, highlighted by a 1:00.58 second-place finish in the 100-yard fly and a 1:02.10 PB in the 100-yard IM, along with key roles in winning medley relays.
Dereck Nguy was a top performer in backstroke and fly for the men, earning second in the 100-yard back (55.00 SB) and posting a 52.52 PB in the 100-yard fly. Larwence Thomas added strength in sprint, freestyle and IM, including a 53.02 second-place finish in the 100-yard IM and strong relay splits.
Across distance, sprint and stroke events, multiple athletes posted personal bests and podium finishes, reinforcing the team’s depth throughout the lineup.
Las Positas’ first-ever overall conference championship win came in 2013, also at De Anza, during the third year of the program’s existence. Though the men placed second this time, this performance marks a pivotal moment for the swim and dive program.
Ahead: the state championships. Where every second matters. Where the Hawks will face their toughest competition. Two weeks of preparation remain, and the top point scorers will taper.
“We have a few people that are on the border, but Filuka and Sam are definitely going to states,” Craighead said. And Nathanael, Logan and Larwence Thomas, definitely going to states.”
Houborg will compete in the 200-, 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events. Fehr in the 100- and 200-yard breast stroke. Borrelli in the 200- IM, 400- IM and 200-yard butterfly. Ridosko will swim the 500- and 200-yard freestyle, and either the 1,650- or the 50-yard freestyle. All will be in relays.
The entire team’s performance at states will matter. Every point in every stroke the team has worked toward will be vital to the its overall success, no matter who Craighead has competing in Southern California.
“My goal is to try for the women to place top three in state,” Craighead said. “We have some heavier hitters like Samantha and Filuka, who are gonna be ranked real high. And then we have (divers) Laina Stifter and Ainsley Wade, who should score really high, and both our women’s medley relays should be top five in state. Points come real fast.”
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TOP PHOTO: The LPC women’s swim and dive team celebrates after winning the team title at the Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif. on Apr. 18, 2026. The Hawks scored 830 points to secure back-to-back titles, powered by depth across events and standout performances throughout the meet. (Photo by Eric Liang/The Express).
Annie Moore is the Sports Editor of The Express. Follow her on X @SanJosAnnie.
