Following Bakersfield College swim team’s March 13 loss against Santa Monica College at the William A. Wheeler Aquatic Center, BC swim head coach Charlie Pike had optimistic words about the men’s and women’s teams.

“I’m happy with everything,” he said. “They swam really well. They really stepped it up.”

Pike added that even though BC men were disqualified in the men’s 400-yard medley relay, due to a stroke infraction, he was satisfied with the meet.

BC men lost 98-93 to Santa Monica overall. BC women lost 112-82.

Pike noted that BC’s Allison Duran and Chris Ponec each swam their best times in their

events. Duran won in the women’s 200-yard individual medley (2:14.40), 100-yard backstroke (59.64) and helped win the 200-yard medley relay (1:59.92), with BC teammates Haley Wren, Katherine James and Rianna Thompson.

Pike said he’s optimistic that Duran has a good chance to win at the state championships.

“She’s going to have a shot at winning state,” said Pike and mentioned that her times met the state’s time’s winners of last season.

Ponec won in the men’s 400-yard IM (4:26.31) along with BC teammate Dan Diaz in second (4:54.84). Ponec also competed in the 500-yard freestyle and finished in first (5:01.72), and teammate Matt McDonnell finished in second (5:20.64).

Pike keeps a positive attitude toward the rest of the BC swimming season. “[We need to] just keep going through keep pulling through.”

One of BC’s obstacles this season is the impressive competition from their Western State Conference rivals. Cuesta College, one of their WSC competitors, held a two-day invitational March 6-7.

BC’s Duran finished first in the 100 backstroke (1:00.5) and earned a second-place finish in the 200-yard IM and a third place in 100-yard freestyle.

BC travels to Citrus for a tri- meet March 20 against Citrus and L.A.Valley.