Diving into Excellence: California Baptist Kicks Off Swimming Season 2025!

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Returning from the winter recess, the Pacific swimming team is heading to Southern California to launch the new calendar year against California Baptist on Saturday at noon at the Lancer Aquatics Center. 
 
The men’s squad (3-0) and women’s squad (4-1) are aiming to expand upon their impressive first halves of the 2024-25 season, kicking off with a road challenge against the Lancers.
 
“This meet will provide a great opportunity to assess our condition after the winter break,” head coach Katelyne Herrington expressed. “It will give us an insight into our status over the past weeks, and we are eager to embark on the second half. CBU has a solid team this year, featuring many seniors and a robust international contingent. It is set to be a challenging meet for us, but I am optimistic about it being competitive.”
 
Following a commendable showing in the fall, the men’s team has been recognized as the fifth most enhanced team among the 143 Division I men’s swimming programs, as reported by SwimCloud.
 
Leading the charge for the Tigers on the men’s side are outstanding performers, freshman Javier Lopez Guillen and senior Mitchell Hopper.
 
Guillen shattered the Pacific men’s 200 yard fly record at the UNLV Invitational with a time of 1:43.62 and has placed first in both the 100 yard and 200 yard fly in every event this season.
 
Hopper has consistently ranked among the top three in the 100 yard fly on three occasions, including a first-place finish against Cal State East Bay and Fresno Pacific. The native of Happy Valley, Oregon also secured a first-place victory in the 200 yard free twice during his senior year.
 
Seniors Alexia Ferguson and Noemi Melendez have also distinguished themselves on the women’s roster, steering the Tigers to their finest first-half start of the season under Herrington’s guidance.
 
Ferguson has placed in the top three twice in the 100 yard free, highlighted by a first-place finish during the home opener. Ferguson recently set a personal record in the 100 yard free at the UNLV Invitational with a time of 51.74. 
 
Melendez has claimed first place on two occasions this season, once in the 100 yard fly against Cal State East Bay and Fresno Pacific and again in the 200 yard fly against UC Santa Cruz and San Jose State.
 
The Tigers and Lancers will face off for only the third time in the history of their rivalry. Saturday’s meeting marks the second instance that Pacific will travel to Riverside.
 
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