Lancer Melissa Cienega in action during the season-opening Mt. SAC Invitational in Walnut Feb. 25, photo by Richard Quinton. From 2013 through last year, the Pasadena City College women’s swim team vaulted into the upper tier of state programs. Numerous school records were set, the program’s first two state individual titles were won by Shannon […]
Lancer Melissa Cienega in action during the season-opening Mt. SAC Invitational in Walnut Feb. 25, photo by Richard Quinton.
From 2013 through last year, the Pasadena City College women’s swim team vaulted into the upper tier of state programs. Numerous school records were set, the program’s first two state individual titles were won by Shannon Cheung in 2014, and the school boasted South Coast Conference Co-Swimmers of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2016 after Cheung’s solo win in 2013.
From 2013-15, the Lancers finished in the team top 8 at the CCCAA State Championships, including a school-best fifth in 2015. Last year, the program won a PCC record 11 conference individual titles at the SCC Championships.
PCC head coach Terry Stoddard, the SCC Coach of the Year the past two seasons, realizes how much was accomplished in the recent seasons. That’s why he also understands that each new season can present new challenges. In his 18th season in charge of the Lancers, Stoddard said the 2017 team will be a work in progress.
Stoddard said, “We have been lucky enough to be blessed with so many great swimmers from Shannon Cheung to Connie Peng to Liza Echeverria and Ariahn Givens. We have another two in the making this year in freshmen Jocelyn Jo and Melissa Cienega, but unlike the past few years, we know the rest of the team will need hard work and improved efforts to help the team score points with the other top programs.”
The Lancers took sixth place as a team out of 21 teams at the Mt. SAC Invitational on Feb. 24-25. Jo (from South Pasadena High) placed second overall in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.21) and 200 breaststroke (2:35.26) while also taking eighth in both the 200 individual medley (2:21.76) and 400 IM (5:08.93).
In a versatile performance, Cienega (John Marshall High) scored second in the 200 freestyle (1:59.02), third in the 200 IM (2:18.54), fourth in the 100 freestyle (55.95) and 500 freestyle (5:22.69), and a sixth in the 200 backstroke (2:20.55).
Returning sophomore Anais Hacobian finished 10th in the 100 backstroke (1:07.28) and 11th in the 50 freestyle (25.99) and 100 freestyle (57.98).
PCC hosts its only home SCC double dual meet of the season on Friday, Mar. 3 against defending conference champ Mt. San Antonio and LA Trade Tech. Meet time is 12:30 p.m. at the Aquatic Center.
