The William A. Wheeler Aquatic Center at Bakersfield College, home of the over $3 million Olympic-sized Italian-imported pool, was finally put to use on March 27 as BC along with Citrus, Cuesta, L.A. Valley and Santa Monica took part in the final meet before the Western State Conference Swim Championship.

It took 42 days since the start of the 2015 swim season for BC to finally host a meet.

The Renegades came in with nearly two weeks to prepare.

“We kept a lot of energy,” sophomore Lexi Zimmerman said in regards to the preparation over the course.

Zimmerman finished in first place in both the women’s 200-yard breaststroke (2:35.35) and 400-yard IM (5:03.61, over 30 seconds ahead of the runner-up, her teammate Christina Ruettgers) while helping BC finish second in the women’s 400-yard freestyle relay alongside Paige Richardson, Sara Klang and Alison Lechman.

Richardson also had a decent day, as she placed first in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:47.29) and third in the 100-yard freestyle (1:00.08).

Freshman Sara Klang also didn’t disappoint.

Klang took first in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:45.58 (40 seconds ahead of the runner-up, her teammate Victoria Vargas) and second in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:30.36.

On the men’s side, they accounted for 12 of the total 23 top three finishes as Erik Wood took first in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:08.04 (teammate Drake Lyle falling just behind in second with a time of 5:13.37) and third in the 400-yard IM.

Cristian Serrato and Mikey Fink were the only other swimmers to place first for BC as Serrato took first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:27.31) while Fink finishing in first in the 100-yard freestyle (49.46).

The Renegades will have had two weeks to prepare again, but this time for the WSC Championship in Ventura on April 16-18.

The women will look to defend their conference title while the men will look to surpass their third place finish last year.