Pacific’s swim teams have made leaps and bounds after being reinstated as a sport eight years ago. The program used to be NAIA, which was a smaller classification of competition, however it allowed scholarships.
While the program has stepped it up a level, it has struggled at times in the past few years. But like any program that is rebuilding, it takes time.
Here at Pacific the team is making changes for the better, and is heading in a very positive direction.
This year’s swim team is on fire and surpassing expectations. Head coach Alec Webster, who is in his sixth season with Pacific, is proud of both the men’s and the women’s teams, and is looking for more success to come. With nationals just around the corner, there is much excitement and anticipation in the swimmers.
The conference meet for both men’s and women’s swim will be held from February 10-12. Everyone from the team will compete because there are 18 slots open. Pacific doesn’t carry a full eighteen, so that works to their advantage. Were they to carry more, coach Webster would have to make some decisions and changes to their roster.
Webster is confident in both teams this season and said, “The performance and the team’s attitude has been great.” This is a huge lift to the men’s team who came in with the expectations for this to be a rebuilding year. But swimmer Michael Hargitt is leading his nine teammates on to a very promising season. Hargitt is expected to perform at nationals in March.
The women’s team has been outstanding and is looking to send three swimmers on to Nationals after their conference meet. Altogether there are four swimmers from Pacific who have a legitimate shot at making nationals.
Amanda Clark, Allison Clark, Katie Porter and Michael Hargitt. Amanda Clark, who is a freshman, has already set about to breaking school records and is definitely primed to perform in this years national tournament, which will be held in Indianapolis, Ind.
In order to compete in nationals, Pacific’s swimmers have to place in one of two places. The A cut means that they are guaranteed a spot to swim at nationals, and the B cuts are next in line. A swimmer can hold the A spot for one event and a B spot for another event and actually swim in both, Clark has a shot at this, as well as Hargitt.
With things looking up for the team, expectations have grown higher and an excitement for the upcoming competitions only continues to rise.
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