Talon Marks Online Sports

In its second meet of the season, the Cerritos College men’s swim team will be competing at the SCC Pentathlon at Pasadena City College.

Long Beach, LA Trade Tech, Rio Hondo, Pasadena, El Camino, Mt. San Antonio and Chaffey are among the schools that will be competing against Cerritos.

A week ago, Cerritos competed at the Waterman Festival and Pentathlon at Palomar College where the highest place the men’s team placed was Freshman Albert Vidal at 22nd.

Having put in plenty of practices, Head Coach Joe Abing is confident that the team will do well at Friday’s conference at Pasadena City College.

“The guys have been working hard so it should be a good meet,” Abing said.

Although the team will be swimming against a larger variety of schools, business major Dustin Yi says he is confident his team will do well.

“I’m not nervous or anything because when we give 100 percent at practice, we do great at our meets,” he said.

Feeling prepared for Friday, Yi says his backstroke is his best asset. “It comes so natural to me,” he said.

Electrical engineering major Kurt Thormodsen has had about six years of experience in competitive swimming.

Because of the time he has dedicated to the sport, Thormodsen’s interest has increased throughout the years.

“Swim is an individual sport because really, you compete against yourself.

“It’s really about breaking your own time and going faster than you did during your last swim,” he said.

Believing that efforts from the team is crucial to score a win, Thormodsen is confident that Friday’s meet will be exceptionally well.

Film major Diego Sanchez said, “Practice and commitment are the real key to success.”

He added, “Attitude plays an important factor too because it can help bring up the morale for everyone else who might be a little nervous.”

Sanchez is excited for the extra competition.

“The more competition, the more fun I have,” he said.

Friday’s meet will occur throughout the entire day.