For the first time since 1975, the Turlock Sea Dogs can call themselves champions. After a season of success in the water the Turlock team finished strong at the Mid Valley Swim League Championships at Ripon High on July 14, taking the first place position with a total of 1,090 points.

“We were all ecstatic,” head coach Erick Richter said. “We had more kids stay until the end of the meet than we did all year and when they announced we had won, everyone went nuts.”

Turlock claimed its championship with the volume of its performances as groups of Sea Dog swimmers competed in the finals of a multitude of events. The large numbers meant that Turlock would receive a large number of points even if its swimmers didn’t finish in first place. Still, swimmers like Madison Ngo, who finished first in the 25 yd backstroke, came out on top to add even more points to Turlock’s score.

“When we beat Ripon in the first dual of the season we knew we could clinch and just about win every swim meet this year,” Richter said.

The Rival Ripon Sea Lions came in second with 941 points, followed by the Tracy Tritons in third and the Ceres Dolphins in fourth.