XANDER DIMITRIADIS / 2021-22 Male Athlete of the Year
Men’s swimming All-American Alexander Dimitriadis has been named the 2021-22 Rio Hondo College Male Student-Athlete of the Year for his impressive accomplishments for the Roadrunners this past season.
Dimitriadis, who also goes by the name Xander, recently wrapped up one of the finest seasons in recent memory for the Rio Hondo College men’s swimming and diving team.
The freshman was the unanimous South Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year after capturing individual conference titles in the 200-yard IM, 400-yard IM, and 200-yard breaststroke while also pacing the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relay teams to impressive finishes.
His time of 1:54.86 in his championship swim of the 200 IM was the fifth fastest time in the state while his times of 4:07.31 in the 400 IM and 2:06.67 in the 200 breast were both the seventh fastest statewide.
According to men's swimming and diving head coach Stephen Smith, Dimitriadas' times were all tops marks since his coaching tenure began in 2016 and could likely be school records as well.
Dimitriadis, out of Esperanza High School in Anaheim, capped the year with another amazing weekend at the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships.
He went on to earn All-America honors in all three of his events. His best showing at state was a sixth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:08.46. Dimitriadis added a ninth-place showing in the 200 free (1:43.83) and finished 10th in the 200 IM at 1:56.09.
"I am very proud of what Xander was able to accomplish this year," said Smith. "Xander embodies what it means to be a Roadrunner. He is a good athlete, a good student, and a good person. Xander worked very hard all season and is deserving of all accolades, awards, and accomplishments this season."
Dimitriadis snaped a string of four consecutive wrestlers to be named Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Daniel Romero (2016-17), James Schmidt (2017-18), Diego Sanchez (2018-19), and Kahlil Tucker (2019-20) were most recently honored.
