Pool plagued by sibling rivalry

Ubonwan Pinjipinyo

Valley College defeated Pierce College at swim meet Friday afternoon, 67-44.

The event was a dual meet between Pierce and Valley for both men and women, with diving and swimming rounds.

“We know that team very well because they train with us every day, because their pool, the pool that they’ve been using, is broken,” said Fred Shaw, Pierce head coach. “As a result, they work out with us and we know them very well.”

“I know Pierce has a couple of good swimmers which we train almost at the same time now,” said Stu Blumkin, assistant coach at Valley, before the meet started. “It’ll be a close meet, but we’ll be able to win.”

Blumkin was confident his women’s team would win, because Pierce only has one female swimmer.

The swim meet began with one-meter and three-meter springboard diving.

Gene Williams, a freshman from Valley College, finished first in both rounds with 136.2 sec and 110.3 sec.

Tiffanie Wright, a sophomore at Valley, was the only female diver first with 149.50 sec and then 148.55 sec.

Nick Cohen, 20, from Pierce and Alexander Mejia, a sophomore from Valley, tied for second both times at 112.75 sec, and for the three-meter dive, Cohen finished second again with 72.40 sec.

Cohen said he got an injury and he expects to do better next time.

“Looking at the difficulty of dives and scores will determine who will come first and second,” said Mike Santo, women’s head coach at Valley.

Christina Courtney, 20, Pierce College finished first in the women’s 1000 freestyle.

Eryk Hackman won third in the men’s 50 freestyle.

The 18-year-old Hackman’s time of 25.36 sec was his best record set.

“I got my personal best today. So, I’m very happy about that,” Hackman said. “I told my coach before going into the race that I’m really gonna try to put in all my effort and really break my time.”

“I’ve been starting all year to break my time and finally I was able to do so,” continued Hackman. “I’m very ecstatic about that.”

Andrew Hyun, 18, finished first in the 200 backstroke.

“I felt really good and tired,” Hyun said. “I gained five seconds on my backstroke.”

Fabian Herrera and Jose Solares finished second and third in the 100 butterfly.

In the 500 freestyle, first and third went to Kevin Williamson and Fabian Herrera.

“I think my boys and girls swam real hard,” said Jim McMillan, men’s head coach of Valley. “They’re getting faster at this point of training. They’re supposed to be. So, all’s good.”

“The conference Swim Championships are in Ventura at the end of April 24 to 26,” said Judi Terhar, assistant coach at Pierce. “That’s our goal and we’ll be swimming there and two of our swimmers may make it to state.”

“State is the first week in May at Saddleback College,” continued Terhar. “We think that Andrew and Christina will be making it to state.”

Terhar said that records often last 10 to 15 years before they are broken.

It is rare for a swimmer to break records of the very best past performances.

Instead, she expects individual swimmers to reach their personal best. She praised her team for their success in this goal.

“Looking forward to some more close races and some fun time,” Shaw said.

Fabian Herrera, Pierce College, in action during the 100 butterfly in Competition vs. LA Valley College.LA Valley College won 67-44 ()

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