Giants swimming and diving rolls to season-opening victory
By Nick Giannandrea
COS Athletics
College of the Sequoias swimming and diving team is off to a successful start.
Competing for the first time in more than a year, the Giants' combined men's and women's teams defeated Shasta 1,199-588 on April 16 at the COS pool.
Zachary Welch, a freshman from Exeter High, captured two events individually and helped power a winning relay team to lead Sequoias' men.
Welch posted career-best times while winning the 50 free in 22.65 seconds (an improvement of 0.25 seconds) and the 100 free in 49.32 (a drop of 1.08 seconds).
"He has really high goals for himself," Giants coach Ally Briano said. "He would like to transfer to a four-year school. He knows there is a lot of work before him to get that opportunity, but he's totally capable of it. He's putting in the work, and these times are a sign of progress that he's getting there."
Welch was also part of the first-place 200 free relay team -- also featuring freshman Caleb Peltzer (Exeter), freshman Josh Peters (Redwood) and sophomore Ezra Sisk (El Diamante) -- that clocked a 1:32.28.
Peltzer also had an impressive debut for Sequoias as he broke the school record in the 50 fly in 24.75.
"Caleb is extremely impressive," Briano said. "He's worked his butt off. At this point, he's fatigued and getting to his taper, where he will probably drop a lot of time."
Peters, who Briano said can swim nearly every event, scored an individual win in the 200 free in 1:53.56.
"Josh is super fun to watch because he never fatigues," Briano said. "He has legs for days and can outkick anyone."
Sophomore Anna Nippoldt (Immanuel-Reedley) and freshman Alyssa Bodoh (Porterville) highlighted the women's team by each winning an individual event and a relay.
Nippoldt, who returned to Sequoias to compete despite completing enough units to graduate last year, placed first in the 50 free in 25.80. She dropped 0.60 seconds off her career-best time.
"She killed it. She did so good," Briano said. "She's the kind of athlete who has unlimited potential. It will be up to her whether she wants to continue or hang up her swimsuit and move on."
Bodoh won the 200 free in 2:10.98.
"She trains really hard all the time. She's very consistent," Briano said. "It was really cool to see her come into her first meet and win by more than 12 seconds in her event.'
Nippoldt and Bodoh were joined by sophomore Audrey Bradford (Lindsay) and freshman Alex Salazar (Redwood) on the winning 200 free relay team, which finished in 1:47.54.
Briano said her men's and women's 200 free relay teams should both have shots at setting school records this season. The men's record is 1:28.39 set in 2018. The women's mark of 1:46.13 was set in 2018.
Sequoias returns to action April 23 in a Bay Valley Conference tri-meet against Fresno City and host Merced. The meet is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
The Giants also have meets April 30 at Fresno City, May 7 at Shasta and the Bay Valley Conference Championships on May 14 at Merced.
