Bakersfield College Swimming opened up their season at the Western State Conference Pentathlon on Feb. 13 at L.A. Valley College.

Each Renegade participant swam in five events that included: 100-yard butterfly, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle and 100 IM.

“Top to bottom, everyone swam well,” head coach Matt Moon said.

Bakersfield had two placers on both sides finishing in the top five.

On the women’s end, Cal State – East Bay commit Lexi Zimmerman took second overall with a time of 5:42:33.

“Last year she [Zimmerman] took ninth or 10th, so it was definitely a vast improvement,” Moon stated.

Freshman teammate Sara Klang finished right behind Zimmerman at third place seconds later for her first official collegiate meet. Klang swam a lifetime best during her 100 butterfly.

For the men, this was the second year in a row where Bakersfield had a swimmer take first overall. Last year it was Andrew Hargis and this year it was freshman Eric Wood to repeat.

Wood finished with a time of 4:40:33, nine seconds ahead of the next finisher.

Also placing was Mikey Fink who took fifth overall coming in at 4:55:54.

“He [Fink] exceeded my expectations, but I knew he had the speed,” Moon said.

The Renegade swim team will travel to Mt. San Antonio College in a three-day invitational meet beginning on Feb. 19 before heading back to L.A. Valley on Feb. 27 to face the host Monarchs, along with Citrus, Santa Barbara City College and Santa Monica City College.