Pierce College 2019 Men's Swim Season

     The Pierce College swim team is looking for talented, hard working, and dedicated student athletes to add to their already very successful swim program. Last year unfortunately there were no Western State Conference Championships or State competition because of Covid19, but we are excited that all of these athletes will regain a year of eligibility. We hope to see many of them return again next year to complete what they began. Here is a brief synopsis of our last complete season of competition in 2019.

     This was a year for the record books. At the WSC Championships Mario Marshall was 1st the men's 100 fly in a 49.63, 1st in the 100 free in a 45.59, and 2nd in the 50 free in a 20.94. Also qualifying in the finals was Jake Jepson who placed 4th in the 100 fly in a 51.27, and Wyatt Feldman 4th in the 100 breaststroke in a 1:01.92. Juo Sato our male swimmer from Japan was 5th in the 400 IM in a 4:33.04. Finally, Alonso Noguera a swimmer from Mexico City qualified 8th in the 50 free in a 22.15, and made the consolation finals in the 100 free in a 50.12.

     All five of these men would compete in our relays at the WSC Championships. Pierce College finished 2nd in the 400 free relay, 2nd in the 800 free relay, 3rd in the 200 free relay, and 4th in the 400 medley relay. Each school is allowed to qualify 4 relays for the State Championships. In the State of California there are 109 Community Colleges. In order to qualify for State in the relays you must have one of the top 12 times in that relay in the entire State of California. Pierce College qualified for all four relays.

     Our State Championships were in Cupertino, California. Our school went all out to provide the finances for us to accomplish this task, and our men would come ready to compete. Mario Marshall would be the State Champion in the 100 fly setting a new school record in a 49.40. He would place 2nd in the 100 free setting another school record in a 45.25. And finally, he placed 5th in the 50 free and has the school record in a 20.94. Mario also smashed the school record in the 200 freestyle in an unbelievable 1:43.39. In our relays at State the men received a medal and highest ranking in the 800 free relay with Marshall, Sato, Feldman, and Jepson. They would go on to break records in the 200 free relay with Noguera, Jepson, Sato, and Marshall in a 1:26.44. Another record was broken in the 400 free relay with Noguera, Sato, Feldman, and Marshall in a 3.11.95. Our final relay to compete at State and to break a Pierce College record was the 400 Medley Relay. Sato swam the backstroke, Feldman the breaststroke, Jepson the fly, and Marshall the free in a 3:35.62.

     This completes the 7 school records broken in 2019. Records are made to be broken, but to understand how unique this season was it should be put into perspective. Three relays had stood the test of time since 1982. The 100 fly and 200 free records had been there since 1987. It took five hard working young men from Japan, Mexico, and the United States to put this season together. It took our administration, athletic director, athletic secretary, trainers, our strength and fitness coach, and my assistants to make this dream possible. These incredible young athletes deserve all the recognition on their well deserved success. If you would like to come to Pierce College to fulfill your dreams, whatever they may be, we are here to help. We will feature the women's water polo team, swim team, and diving teams next. There are records to be broken and dreams to come true from you as well, so please keep in touch.

Judi Terhar

Head M/W Swim Coach

Head Water Polo Coach

Terharja@piercecollege.edu

818 238-7305