Strength In Numbers Could Help Men's Swim in 2020

Competing with its largest roster in nine years, the Pasadena City College men's swim team is poised to compete hard for the South Coast Conference title in the 2020 season.

The Lancers, directed by head coach Terry Stoddard in his 21st season in charge, placed third at the SCC Championships last season after a 6-1 record in dual meets. Because the championships points are determined through even medium to lower places, the more swimmers placing overall aid any school's total point count. Winning events works well in dual meet scoring, but a strength in overall placings by as many swimmers as possible has a positive effect on the team score in the championship scoring.

Carrying 18 overall swimmers, PCC returns eight sophomores, including Michael Humphrey, who scored a third place in the difficult 400-yard individual medley and a fourth place in the 200 butterfly at the 2019 CCCAA State Championships. Also at state, letterman Harrison Tin earned an 11th in the 200 breaststroke and 12th in the 100 breaststroke. The Lancers did not have a South Coast individual champion for just the first time in five years. Grayson Wade, Brandon Tu, Mathew Bilaver, Jeffrey Kha, Arootin Choobachian, and Kenneth Tiet also are seasoned sophomores. 

At the season-opening Waterman Festival (hosted by Palomar College) Feb. 7-8, Tin won the 100 breaststroke with a 1:02.89 time while Humphrey scored second in the 100 butterfly (56.14 seconds). Tu placed second in the 100 backstroke with a 1:00.49 mark. Overall among five scoring teams, PCC took second place with 562 points behind the 679 turned in by meet winner Cerritos College. The Lancers scored wins in four relay events. In pentathlon overall individual scoring, Humphrey was third, Tin fifth and Bilaver 11th. 

Of the team's 10 freshmen, newcomers Jiri Kral (from the Czech Republiic) and Nicholas Chan (Arcadia High) are expected to step up as the season progresses. 

On Friday, Feb. 14, the Lancers participate in the SCC Pentathlon at Mt. San Antonio College. Events begin at 9 a.m.