PCC Men/Women Swim Opens '25 Season

The Pasadena City College men's and women's swim teams began the 2025 season on Friday at the South Coast Conference Pentathlon held at East Los Angeles College.

The Lancers won a mixed 200-yard freestyle event that saw PCC men Ethan Toro and Nick Padilla combine their efforts with Lancers women Emily Wang and Elyssa Guevara. The team finished in a time of 1:55.95 with Chaffey, East LA also participating in the race.

For the men, Padilla, one of five freshman on the roster, placed 24th in the 100 backstroke at 1:05.41.

In the 200 individual medley, he hit the wall in 27th (2:20.73) and the sophomore Toro scored 47th (2:30.24). Padilla was 33rd in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.99) and Toro 48th (1:18.85). In the 100 butterfly, Padilla finished 36th and Toro was 44th (1:08.44). 

Frosh swimmers Josiah Lands (61st in 100 breaststroke, 1:22.54), Haofeng Tang (68th in 100 butterfly, 1:16.01), Christopher Martinez and Andrew Morales all got their first taste of college swimming. 

PCC head coach Terry Stoddard, in his 25th season in charge of the aquatics programs, said that top returning swimmer Michael Petersen will be ready to go for the team's next meet after having to miss the SCC event due to taking a mandatory chemistry lab final on the same day. Petersen was 12th in the state 100 breaststroke as a freshman. Petersen and Toro are PCC team captains this season.

On the women's side, the sophomore team captain Wang scored 21st in the 100 breaststroke (1:24.70), 35th in the 100 butterfly (1:30.24), and 41st in the 200 IM (3:00.19). Guevara, a freshman, placed 32nd in 100 fly (1:27.15) and 50th in the 100 freestyle (1:13.96). 

Letterman Genesis Rojas and freshman Yahaira Martinez also participated in a number of races.

This Friday, Feb. 14, the swim teams are in action at the El Camino College Triple Distance Event. Races begin at 10 a.m.