—Submitted photo Iowa Central’s Joe Plane (in hat) stands with the Tritons’ 200 freestyle relay champions Vincent Fletcher, Emile Lutzeler, Tjeerd Van Stein and Billy Cruz.

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Billy Cruz has rewritten the Iowa Central swimming record books.

Heading into this year’s national tournament, the Triton swim team had one national champion in its history. After the second day of the NJCAA championships, the Tritons now have four.

Cruz, a freshman for the Tritons, claimed the 50 freestyle crown on Wednesday. On Thursday, he was part of history.

Indian River State College in Floriday has claimed the national championship for 45 straight seasons, and since 1975, had never lost a relay at the national meet. That changed on Thursday.

The Tritons ended that long streak, as Cruz and his three teammates won the 200 freestyle relay in school-record time.

Cruz swam a 19.54 in the opening leg. Vincent Fletcher (20.43) and Tjeerd Van Stein (20.71) followed. Emile Lutzeler, who won the Tritons’ first-ever national gold last year, anchored with a 19.93 to complete a new school mark of 1:20.61.

“We led from beginning to end and won by over a body length,” said ICCC head coach Joe Plane. “I talked to one of the Indian River assistant coaches, and he said since 1975, they’ve never lost a relay (at the national meet).

“On the men’s and women’s sides, we are one big huge family. During the event, the team was standing behind me in the bleachers and we couldn’t believe it.

“It was surreal. The kids were pumped and excited.”

Cruz would be on the top of the podium twice, also winning the 100 butterfly in a time of 47.4 for his third overall gold in two days.

“Billy came in at the beginning of the season as a superior swimmer,” Plane said. “But he never put himself above the rest of the team. He is a terrific human being and an outstanding teammate. He is the ultimate team guy, which speaks volumes about his character.”

Plane and the Tritons preach team and family first, and it was no more evident than the relay events. The Tritons set five school records in six of the relays.

The quartet of Mariano Sosa, Lutzeler, Cruz and Marcelo Busch finished second with a school record in the 400 medley relay (3:21.54).

Busch also earned a silver medal in the 200 freestyle (1:41.21).

The Triton men are currently third in the standings. Indian River is in the lead with with 540.5. Barton is second 391 and Iowa Central (389) is a close third.

The Iowa Central women, who only have eight swimmers at nationals, are also in third with 271 points. Indian River (641) and Barton (301) are the top two schools.

“I think one big thing about are women is we have eight swimmers, Indian River has 18, Barton 14 and Southwest Oregon has 12,” Plane said. “We are only 30 points behind Barton with eight swimmers. We are performing well.”

The 200 freestyle relay team of Mary Marshall, Maria Diaz, Emilie Andrin and Eve Berg touched the wall in 1:38.71 to finish third.

Paula Ronda captured an individual bronze n the 400 IM (4:41.02).

The quartet of Berg, Andrin, Diaz and Marshall took fourth (4:00.47) in the 400 medley relay.

“What says a lot about this team is five school records in six relay events,” Plane said. “These relays and this team have just come together really strongly as a group.”