College of San Mateo swimming coach Randy Wright sees big things for his Bulldogs this season. Sophomore sprinter Kawei Tan is a major inspiration for Wright’s optimism.

With CSM competing at the Los Positas Hawk Invite last Friday and Saturday, Tan made a splash with three first-place finishes. CSM earned four firsts overall with Tan topping the 18-team field in the men’s 100-yard backstroke with a time of 51.59 seconds, the 50 free with a 21.45 and in the 200 medley relay — along with Javier Rosas, Josh Yeager and Jake Folan — with a 1:38.14.

Tan’s time in the backstroke fell short of his state championship time of 49.86 as a freshman, when he became the first CSM swimming since 1966 to capture a state title. With his sophomore season just underway though, he has until May to surpass the historic mark.

Rosas had CSM’s other top finish with a 1:44.22 in the 200 free. Rosas also took second in the 50 free with a 21.47, just missing the top spot in a photo finish with Tan. Morgan Smith also had a second-place finish with a 28.07 in the women’s 50 fly. The CSM men’s relay team also took second place in the 400 free relay with a 3:16.46.