Although the season is coming to a close, the Pierce College swim team is enthusiastic for their upcoming state conference competition this Friday and Saturday and state championship next week.
Pierce College men’s swim head coach Fred Shaw and women’s head coach Judi Terhar have been working hard with their swim team on a daily basis to get them ready and at their best for the upcoming meets, practicing everyday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Whether it is raining or sunny outside, they are hard at work at the Steven E. Shofield Aquatic Center.
“This season we have had quite a few conference swim meets and have also done some invitationals. We just did one invitational in Cuesta College, which is in San Luis Obispo and this Saturday we have WSC Conference Championships in Bakersfield,” said Assistant Coach Moriah Van Norman.
“Next week we have California State Championships in East Los Angeles.” The conference championships are attended by all team swimmers, and only those that qualify either from previous records in meets or those that they set at the WSC Conference Championship, will get to attend the state competition.
“Even though there may be a week until state championships, the team has already gained four spots for Pierce College, and there are three additional swimmers that still have a possibility to gain opportunity to attend state championship,” Van Norman said.
Out of the Pierce swimmers who have gained their place in state, three have already broken records.
One of them being swimmer Laura Hagopian, who competes in the 100m and 200m.
“We have had a really good season, sore most of the season because of the hard work outs but we are doing well now. I am concentrated in conference this week and hopeful to qualify for state,” said Pierce swimmer Matthew Kaveli.
Some extracurricular problems have affected the team’s roster looking back.
“We have stayed consistent but there have had been ups and downs this season with people being ineligible and stuff like that but we are a pretty strong team and have come out on top”, said Swimming Pool Supervisor Deborah Hefter, former Pierce swimmer.
