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After six straight trips to the California Community College Athletic Association Final Eight Tournament, six straight years of disappointing early tourney exits, six straight seasons of committing to a high level of play and six straight seasons of hard work and persistence, Joe Peron, head coach of the women’s basketball team and his players can call themselves state champions after the Lancers defeated San Joaquin Delta 74-64 on March 15. All things fell into place for the Lancers in the midst of their championship run this season. The emergence of CCCAA Final Eight Tournament MVP Kinyada Johnson and All-State First Team forward Easter Faafiti as the team’s leaders helped the Lancers to a 33-4 overall record.

Johnson’s performance this season was enough to earn 2008-09 PCC Athlete of the Year Award, along with 200-yard butterfly state champion swimmer Tai Nuntapramote. The award is given by the Kinesiology, Health and Athletics Division annually.

Much like the women’s basketball team, the 2008-09 overall records of most PCC sports teams indicated a positive progression.

In the 2009 season, the Lancers’ improvement screamed loudly in the form of championships and some remained as subtle as an enhanced conference finish. Nevertheless, the spirit of Lancer athletics was represented superbly through the 2008-09 seasons.

Badminton

Women’s badminton player Priscilla Lun was key in capturing the team SCC title this season. Lun also won the individual title and the doubles title partnering up with Angela Chinn. A stellar athlete, Lun completed the season while pursuing an Olympic career.

Baseball

Even the baseball team, which finished eighth in the South Coast Conference despite finishing seventh in the 2008 season, ended another tough season by improving its record from 7-36 to 8-31 overall.

Cross Country

Due to low numbers, the men’s and women’s cross country didn’t have anyone place at the SCC individual championships in 2007. Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams, led by third-year coach Armand Crespo, completed a total overhaul by having runners place in the 2008 SCC individual championships. Top PCC runner Ernesto Rodriguez finished in 15th place and top women runner Ashley Hernandez finished 25th.

Football

The football team led by Acting Head Coach James Kuk fielded a handful of All-SCC selections and improved from 6-4 to 7-4 this season. Kuk stepped in for previous Head Coach Kenny Lawler, who was put on paid administrative leave early in the season, and led the team to victory in the inaugural Tremblay Services Bowl beating Santa Barbara City College 45-14 on Nov. 22.

Men’s Basketball

Men’s basketball drastically improved its record, claiming 20 victories this season after winning only four last season. Despite valiant efforts by sophomore point guard Corey Caston who broke the PCC record of assists in a season with 238, Charrun Jones who broke the PCC record of three-pointers made this season with 119 and All-SCC North Division forward Elliot Berry’s, they missed the playoffs and ended their impressive season at 20-11.

Soccer

The men and women’s soccer teams, both led by Director Cherif Zein, faced success this season. The men won a playoff game for the first time in four years on the way to a 15-6-1 finish. The women were led by two-sport athlete Melissa Fudge, the team’s and conference’s leading scorer with 18 goals.?Fudge led the Lancers to a 10-8-1 record.

Softball

The softball team joined men’s basketball as a PCC team that cracked 20 wins this season. Led by ace Amber Frame and center fielder Mari Rangel, the team was crowned Golden West Tournament Champions and finished 20-19 overall.

Swimming

The women’s basketball team was not the only state champion crowned this season. Swimmer Tai Nuntapramote won the 200-yard butterfly title and was named SCC Swimmer of the Year and PCC Male Athlete of the Year to end his spectacular career at PCC.

Track and Field

The men and women’s track and field teams both took fifth in the SCC as sprinter Deandre Smith ran all the way to the CCCAA Track and Field Championships to take ninth in the 200-meter final.

Volleyball

The volleyball team, led by departing sophomores Ashley Marshman, Candice Parker, and Vanessa Amran, was ranked in the State Top 25 Volleyball Poll for the first time since 2002 this season. It jumped from fourth place in the SCC in 2007 to second in the 2008 and finished with a 16-7 overall record.

Water Polo

PCC women’s water polo dropped off from fourth in 2007 to fifth in 2008 but leading freshman center Heather Manwaring was still named to the All-SCC First Team with her 40 goals on the season.

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