Bakersfield College’s swim team hosted a dual meet against College of the Canyons on March 2, and won after having their last two meets canceled.

BC men’s team outscored Canyons men’s team 523-436, while the women outscored Canyons women’s team 464-319.

BC won 13 of the 22 events, including the women and the men’s 200 medley relay, the women’s 1000 freestyle, women 200 freestyle and the men’s 200 freestyle relay

“I think we did good since it was the first dual meet of our season,” said BC coach Charlie Pike. “I think it was great that they were able to overcome them being rusty and swim really well.

“It would’ve been nice to get in a stretch of a lot of meets, but I think the kids will get back into the flow of things after the next two meets,” he said.

He added that they took a team hike before this meet, and he thinks it really helped them grow as a team.

He also said that he thought sophomores Jake Reed and Francesca Wyatt did really well.

“Jake and Franny did really well,” he said. “I was impressed that they had such fast times, since they were really tired coming in.

“They’re starting to come together as a team I would just like them to clean up some of the small things.

I really want us to get off the blocks quicker because we’re still a little slow in the start, and we need to turn quicker as well.”

BC competed in the Cuesta Invitational on March 9-10. Twenty-three teams competed and BC’s women took 10th, while the men placed 12th.

Ventura College women’s team took first and Santa Rosa College ended up first for the men’s. Wyatt continued to swim well, placing eighth in the 1,650 and 10th in the 200 and 500 freestyle.

“They’re really tired,” said Pike. “They’ve been going through some of our toughest week of practice that’s called `Hell Week.’

“This invitational was important for me to see how they measured up against everyone else.

“I wasn’t happy with how we competed. I would call it a lackluster performance because I think they haven’t learned how to swim through the pain. When they get worn down they tend to shut down. Some of them are novice still and don’t know how to run through that wall.

He added that he thinks as soon as they get through this week they’ll be fine.

BC is scheduled to have their next meet on March 23 at L.A.