Jason Reed
Staff Writer
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Entering his eighth season as head coach of the Sacramento City College swim team, Steve Hanson is looking to take his team somewhere it has never been before.
“We might be in contention to get a relay in the state championship,” Hanson said when talking about some of the team’s expectations this season. “That’ll be my first as the coach here.”
The Panthers finished in seventh place at the Big 8 Conference Championships last year and are looking to build off that this time around.
Returning swimmer Julia Ng finished with a time of 25.32 seconds in the 50 freestyle last year and needed to have finished 0.3 seconds faster to make state.
“It felt really good,” Ng said when talking about how she did in time trials Jan. 26. “I was actually really impressed. I wasn’t expecting to do as well as I did.”
Hanson added that Ng was ahead of her mark from where she was last year.
Hanson said that chemistry will be key this year in order for his team to take the next step. He talked about how important it is for his team to bond and know each other and not just focus on themselves as individuals.
During the time trials, as each group performed their event, the waiting participants cheered on to motivate their teammates.
“We got a bunch of really good kids,” Hanson said. “They train hard and they have each other’s back in practice, and they really challenge one another.”
For the men, Matthew Lemire, who redshirted last year, will be returning to the Panthers. Hanson is hoping Lemire can be a top getter for a shorthanded men’s team. Lemire finished fifth in the state his freshman year in the 1500.
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“My whole focus is trying to get athletes to the state championship,” Hanson said when talking about the lack of depth on the roster.
Hanson said he believes it will be difficult to win the conference because the team doesn’t have swimmers for certain events.
Grace Tan is a newcomer to the swim program at City College, coming from Biola University in La Mirada, California.
In the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Championships last February, Tan took first place in the 50 freestyle with the time of 25.88.
“Grace is going to help us out a ton,” Hanson said.
Hanson said he believes the team’s strengths for the women will be the sprints, distances, 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. He’s also very confident about the medley relay. Hanson believes the men will be a strong in the distance events.
“They might be able to score points for us in the Big 8 Championship,” he said.
The Panthers’ first swim meet will be Feb. 9 at Laney College.
For more info on SCC swimming, visit http://sccpanthers.losrios.edu/sports/swimdive/index.
