PCC Swim Teams Dive Into 2024 Season
The 2024 Pasadena City College men's and women's swim teams opened their season Saturday at the El Camino College Triple Distance Invite.
Directed by head coach Terry Stoddard in his 24th season in charge of the aquatics program, freshman Michael Petersen (Crescenta Valley High) highlighted the men's team performances by swimming 22.93 seconds to win the 50-yard freestyle event. He also placed third in the 200 freestyle (1:59.43) and fourth in the 100 freestyle (51.57).
Freshman Paul Aguilan (Clark Magnet) was fifth in the 200 free (2:00.88), sixth in the 50 free (24.38) and eighth in the 100 (53.16).
Returning sophomore Hazem Abdelaty placed sixth in the 200 free (2:09.50) and 500 free (5:46.05). First-year swimmer Ethan Toro (Crescenta Valley) took ninth in the 200 free (2:09.34), 19th in the 100 free (57.88) and 13th in the 50 free (26.42).
Letterman Javier Becerra and freshmen Xerxes Carmer (Downtown Magnet) and Brian Moran (Miguel Contreras HS) also are members of this year's team and will participate in future meets.
"I am looking forward to seeing continued improvement from team co-captain Hazem in both the distance and individual medley events. He has already shown signs of starting this season faster than he finished the season last year," Stoddard said. "Co-captain Javier will share the responsibilities with teammates in the breaststroke and sprint freestyle events. His versatility will help us fill out what we need during our dual meets. Michael will compete in the sprint free and sprint breaststroke events in the South Coast Conference. He comes to PCC fast enough to medal in conference."
WOMEN'S PREVIEW
Stoddard's women's team is paced by returning sophomore Emily Padilla, who scored fourth in both the 200 (2:17.16) and 500 freestyles (6:17.33), and sixth in the 100 freestyle (1:02.68).
Stoddard said: "Emily will be our team captain and also lead us in the distance and butterfly events. Medaling in all three of her events last year at the SCC Championships will give her a chance to start where she left off and level up this year. She has already posted times in practice that have her starting off better than she did last year."
Freshman Emily Wang (Temple City) placed third in the 200 breaststroke (3:30.99), and fourth in each of the 50 (40.52) and 100 breaststrokes (1:30.97).
First-year Lancers swimmer Jingxuan Chen (Mark Keppel HS) scored sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:57.82) while rookie Genesis Rojas (Baldwin Park) placed 14th in both the 50 (36.39) and 200 freestyles (3:12.15).
Letterman Dymaris Gonzalez and freshman Amanda Miranda (Eagle Rock) round out the rest of the PCC women's squad.
The teams go right back to the ECC pool on Friday, Feb. 9 when they participate in the SCC Pentathlon & Relays meet.