The Bakersfield College women’s swim team won 11 out of 12 events in their first home dual against Western State Conference competitors, College of the Canyons, on Feb. 28 at the William A. Wheeler Aquatic Center, 106-69. The BC men’s team lost to COC 136-95.
BC’s Allison Duran won the women’s 50-yard backstroke with a time of 28.42 ahead of three Canyons’ swimmers. Duran was also in the women’s 200-yard individual medley and finished with a time of 2:15.55.
Duran also competed in the women’s 200-yard relay with BC teammates Haley Wren, Chelsi Dominguez and Katerina Prasser, and BC won with a final time of 2:00.81.
BC’s Sara Brady was also a multiple event winner. Brady won the women’s 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:10.19 and the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:53.98.
Renegade women Jenna Defede and Dominguez competed in the women’s 100-yard individual medley, and Dominguez won (1:10.34). Dominguez also won the women’s 50-yard butterfly (28.95).
Dominguez said about her performance, “I felt good, but I felt weaker on the 55, [I’m] trying to get used to it. We’ve been practicing really hard all week.” Dominguez mentioned her preperation before a swim competiton. “I just relax and have fun, I don’t get myself worked up because if you get yourself stressed out you don’t do as well.it’s all mental,” she said.
BC men’s team struggled against Canyons, but won four events: The men’s 400-yard individual medley, the men’s 200-yard individual medley, the men’s 100-yard breaststroke and the men’s 200-yard freestyle relay.
BC’s Macc Rigdon won the 400-yard IM, (4:50.91) and Renegade teammate Dan Diaz won the 200 IM (2:13.48) and the 100-yard breastroke (1:07.88). BC’s Stephen Roberson, Adam Prichard, Justin Steward and Noah Calugaru swam in the men’s 200-yard freestyle relay and finished (1:50.88) ahead of Canyons’ men (1:54.03).
BC swimming coach Charlie Pike was satisfied with the results. Pike said, “It went really well. Most of the kids swam a lot of [their] best times actually.”
Pike added this about the men’s team wins against Canyons and the small group the team has this year: “[For our] guy’s team, our numbers are down, but we had a few first place finishes I was happy with, and, overall, they swam well.
“We’re small, and it’s tough with the whole numbers situation, but I can’t really complain,” Pike added about the men’s team size.
Pike was surprised how his teams responded agility-wise. “It’s their first dual meet of the season, and we’re off to a pretty good start. Some of the kids swam faster than I expected ’cause we’ve been swimming really hard in practice; we’re doing doubles everyday.
“I expected them to be a little more tired than they are right now, but they responded; they did well. ”
Pike explained what the teams are preparing for. Pike said, “We’re hosting [Western State] conference [meet] April 16th through the 18th, so that’s what we’re gearing up for.”