Aquatic teams fight it out in conference

PCC swim teams hosted their first meets of the season Friday with a win against L.A. Trade Tech in both the men and women’s, and a loss in both against Cerritos.Sophomore Merry Sanders came up strong with a first place finish and a season best in the women’s 200 freestyle with a time of 2:07.75 beating out Angie Silva of Cerritos with a time of 2:08.92.

“I think the season is progressing really well and we are working hard and it should pay off as soon as we take risks,” said Sanders.

Sanders also captured first in the women’s 1-meter diving beating out Lancer teammate Anneke Forrest and Nicole Pena of Cerritos.

“My diving was ok and I did a couple of new dives, just trying them out and getting them ready for conference,” said Sanders. “I still have some work to do but by the end of the season my dives should be very strong.”

Sanders also finished in third place in the women’s 50 freestyle and had the best split time in the women’s 4×100 medley relay for a second place finish.

Cindy Huynh also captured a first place for the women’s team in the 50-meters freestyle with a time of 28.74.

Shannon Adams finished in second place in the women’s 500 freestyle just a touch behind the Falcons Brittani Kimura with a time of 5:42.09 to 5:42.17.

“I got out touched in the 500 and I won conference in that event last year, so it was kind of upsetting because I was supposed to win,” said Adams.

The men’s team also showed it’s competitive side by winning with a time of 1:42.19 in the men’s 200 medley relay with the team of Sharif Alaoui, Cord Cuniberti, Enrique Flores, and Baldwin Ngai

Ngai would also swim to first place finishes in both the men’s 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke to pick up some more top points to help the men’s team.

Lancer Alaoui also finished first in the men’s 200 freestyle and barely edged out PJ Gabayeron of Cerritos with a time of 1:59.78 to 1:59.94 to win another first place in the men’s 200 backstroke.

“The team is dropping times consistently that we need and we are training hard,” said Alaoui.

The Lancer women’s team defeated the Beavers 109-20 and lost to the Falcons 87-44 and the Lancer men scored 100-25 over the Beavers and got outscored 84-47 by the Falcons.

The Lancers host another double dual meet against Long Beach City College and Rio Hondo College Friday at 2:30 at the Aquatic Center.