Hancock College sophomore Itandehui Olea garnered three All-American honors thanks to three top-four finishes at the 3C2A State Championship that took place at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo last Friday and Saturday.

Olea finished second in the women’s 10,000 in 36 minutes, 37.95 seconds, shattering the former program record of 40:11.53. Olea also finished fourth in both the 1,500 and 5,000.

Top-four finishers at the state championship meet earned All-American and First-Team All-State recognition. Finishers five-through-eight made the All-State Second Team.

Hancock sophomore Nasim Moody and freshman Eva Luu made Second Team All-State. Moody finished fifth in the men’s long jump, and Luu wound up eighth in the women’s 1,500.

The Hancock women scored 19 points and finished tied for 14th with Cuesta in a field of 37 teams. Moody scored all four points for the Hancock men’s team.

Hancock women’s team members Noemi Bravo Guzman, Emma Marsalek, Jada Brown and Kiana Cruz have all earned All-American status from the California community College Swimming & Diving Association (CCCSDCA).

Those with the top 16 marks in each event across the state earned All-American honors.

Bravo Guzman is an All-American in five events, the 100 and 200 freestyles, 200 backstroke, and 200 and 400 individual medleys.

Marsalek earned All-American status in the 500 and 1,650 freestyles and 400 individual medley. Brown is an All-American in the 200 butterfly.

Bravo Guzman, Marsalek, Kiana Cruz and Brown teamed to earn All-American status in the 400 and 800 freestyle relays.

Hancock scored 130 points and finished 12th out of 35 teams at the state meet, the best finish in program history at the event.  

Hancock College sophomore Jaden Pena has signed with NCAA Division 2 member Queens College. Queens College is located in the New York City borough of Queens and is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) network.

“I chose Queens college because of the connection I felt with coach (Matt) Collier,” Pena said in a Hancock news release.

“We have similar goals that we both want to accomplish, and it felt like Queens was the best fit for me to continue being a student-athlete and pursuing my dreams.”

Pena spent one season with Hancock after transferring from Porterville. The New York City native averaged 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He appeared in 31 games for the Bulldogs.

Pena scored a season high 20 points in a 76-73 Hancock win over Moorpark. Pena shot 9-for-10 from the floor in that one.

“My time here at Hancock has prepared me for the next step in my life, both on the court and off,” said Pena. “My coaches and teammates pushed me to be a better basketball player, student and just an overall better person every day.”