The Ventura College men's swimming team finished second in the California Community College swimming and diving championships for the third straight season since its 2005 state championship Saturday night at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

Sophomore Rafael Aponte won the fourth state championship of his Ventura career by defending his 100-yard freestyle title in 45.04 seconds and freshman Zach Epperson broke the school record in the 200 breast stroke, finishing fourth in 2:09.00.

"The third year in a row in second place is a little rough, but that's just the way it is," said Ventura coach Larry Baratte. "I'm real proud of us."

Ventura, which trailed state champion Diablo Valley 488 points to 434, finished in the top five for the ninth straight year.

"That's good consistency," said Baratte.

The Ventura women, as a team, finished in third place with 360.5 points behind Santa Rosa (450.5) and Sierra (363.5).

The Pirates were touched out of second place in the final event of the meet by 0.01 seconds.

Despite setting the school record, the women's quartet of Katherine Fung, Sarah Colvin, Bonny Bordwell and Brooke Penny finished second in 3:37.76, 0.01 behind Diablo Valley.

"That's how close it was," said Baratte.

Actually, both Ventura teams finished second in the 400 freestyle relays. The men's quartet of Chris Spriggs, Tyler McClure, Scott Siman and Aponte was the runner-up in 3:03.18.

Aponte, who also won the 50-freestyle title Thursday, anchored the relay with a 44.5 split as Ventura finished a body length behind Diablo Valley's state-record 3:01.36.

"That's blazing fast," said Baratte. "Rafael did a great job. He was conference swimmer of the year and he had a great meet."

McClure also finished fifth (46.25) in the 100 freestyle behind Aponte. Zach Epperson finished fourth (2:09.00) in the 200 breast stroke. Spriggs finished fifth (1:53.12) in the 200 backstroke. Aaron Aguilera finished ninth (1:59.27) in the 200 butterfly.

In the 1,650 freestyle, Siman was sixth, Chris Baier was seventh, and Adam Paul was 17th.

For the Ventura women, Fung finished second (17:40) in the 1,650 freestyle. Bordwell and Rene Roy followed in 11th and 13th, respectively.

Colvin and Michelle Kroll finished sixth (1:01.07) and 13th (1:03.07) in the 100 backstroke. Jacqueline O'Hagan was 15th (1:12.37) in the 100 breast stroke.

Penny finished fifth (54.20) in the 100 freestyle.