Behind Two Event Titles By Petersen, Men's Swim Takes 5th At SCC Championships

Michael Petersen completed the meet as a double champion as Pasadena City College placed fifth at the South Coast Conference Swim/Dive Championships held April 17-19 at East Los Angeles' Swim Stadium.

Petersen, who broke a 17-year-old school record to win the 100-yard breaststroke on Friday added a conference gold in the 200 breaststroke as he won the event in a time of 2:05.02. His 2:04.76 in the morning prelims stands as the second fastest in PCC history, trailing just Keisuke Yagi's 2:03.86 set in 2008. The 100 record that Petersen broke was that also set by Yagi.

The sophomore Petersen scored the silver medal in the 50 freestyle in a time of 21.32, seventh fastest on the school's all-time list. 

Evan Yi placed third in the 100 backstroke (56.33), fourth in the 200 backstroke (2:06.64), and seventh in the 100 butterfly (55.50). He set a personal top mark in the prelims in that event at 55.33.

The 200 medley relay squad of Yi, Petersen, Javier Becerra, and Ethan Toro placed third at 1:42.73.

Becerra scored eighth in the 200 backstroke (2:16.50). Toro took 10th in the 1,650 freestyle in breaking 20 minutes (19:06.97). Andrew Morales was 12th (20:59.77).

Petersen is the first Lancers conference double event champion since Swimmer of the Year Samuel Jo (won three events) and teammates Sydney Odent and Roman Rostomyan all performed the feat back in 2018. 

Directed by head coach Terry Stoddard, Petersen will represent the Lancers at the 3C2A State Championships, held May 1-3 at Santa Rosa Junior College. 

Petersen in action at the SCC Championships