During the last South Coast Conference dual swimming and diving meet of the season on Friday the Falcons men’s and women’s team each split their two matches, respectively.
So far on the season the women’s team has compiled a record of 4-4, as they head into the playoffs, while the men’s team have managed a 2-5 season record, as they too follow the women’s team into the postseason.
The women’s Falcons lost its first competition of the day against Pasadena City College–with a score of 152-96; the team then went on to win the next one versus Los Angeles Trade-Tech College, with a nearly identical score, by virtue of points to that of the first match, final score was 156-97.
The fellas also lost against Pasadena City College on the same day, with the point total being 156-103. Although, just like the women’s team they won the next match versus L.A. Trade-Tech College, but with an even greater margin of victory, as the second session ended at 200-52.
As for the women’s club head coach Sergio Macias said of Friday’s events, “Some of the swimmers swam different events, but overall they all did what they were asked, some hard, some got personal best times, they competed.
“We lost to a strong Pasadena [College] team and we beat L.A. Trade-Tech [College] team, that’s much improved from past seasons.”
Sophomore Jackie Oliveros said, “My 200 backstroke was my highlight of the day because I got a time closer to my fastest time in that event from last year.
“The 200 IM is always a challenge for me because I am not the strongest breaststroke swimmer but it’s a great way for me to gain points for my team.”
Oliveros competes in the 100 backstroke (four laps), 200 backstroke (eight laps) and 50 freestyle (two laps).
Another premiere sophomore swimmer is Lindsay deHaas, she participates in the 200 butterfly, 1000 freestyle and the 200 individual medley.
She talked about her performance on March 30, saying, “I feel like I could have competed better in my last swim meet.
“I was feeling a little under the weather, but competed to the best of my ability,” deHaas said.
After coming in second place in the 200-yard medley with a time 2:22.82, deHaas said, “Generally I don’t like coming in second, but knowing that the first place was a fellow Cerritos [College] swimmer I was happy we got first and second, because that’s more points for our team.”
The women’s team is in the middle of the pack right now in its conference, Macias said they will look to move up at least to the top four teams in the conference.
Macias noted that the current top three teams are Mt. San Antonio College, El Camino College and Pasadena City College.
He feels that the team is right where they should be heading into the postseason.
For the men’s squad freshman Sam Turley has been the best swimmer, according to his coach.
He swims in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 200 IM, 50 backstroke, and the 200 medley relay.
Turley commented on his last performance before the playoffs, “I feel like I performed well, but I’m always striving for improvement.”
Men’s head coach Joe Abing said of the upcoming postseason, “I am confident the guys will swim their personal best times and we will feel good about the results.”
Macias talked about the team’s outlook on the playoffs, he said “Well obviously swimming is an individual sport, so you can’t be upset at your team if they achieve their personal or season best times and not place well, it’s either they place well, score us some points or they get their personal best times, there’s two ways to look at how successful that last swim meet could be.”
Macias ended his remarks with, “At the end of the day I want the team to have a great time, set personal goals, attain those goals and then the results will take care of itself.”
Both the Cerritos College men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will compete late in April, as they join the South Coast Conference Championships at Mt. SAC on April 19-21, their opponents will be announced at a later date.
