Photo essay: Splashing around

Coming in 1st place, swim team prepares for conference competition

Roundup Staff

The men and women of the Brahma Swim team enter the water with focus, determination and the support of their coaches and teammates.

This concept is evident in all aspects of the team’s dynamic and each member is driven to excel through the continued and unwavering support of the other members.

STAMINA: Jessica Sanmarti pulls hard through the water during her leg of the women's medley as the Pierce women go on to win the overall women's event Friday. Like most of her teammates, Sanmarti also competes in multiple individual events as well as team-oriented relays and medleys.

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The team continues to persevere through the rough times, somehow able to capitalize on the downtime and come back even stronger than before.

“We’ve been frustrated by setbacks,” said dive coach Joshua Foster. “But we’re very happy with everyone’s performance.”

Kenna Worthen, a first-year competitive diver takes center stage on the board after recently returning to competition.

“It’s hard to bounce back after an injury,” said the active duty Air Force member. “But I was able to come back with two new dives.”

Worthen is getting in all the dives she can while she has the the opportunity. She returns to active military duty in the Air Force May 2.

Soreness and exhaustion are two concepts that have no place in the pool.

“We’re worn down, sure. But we break it down so we can build it up,” said Phillip Chu as he pulls himself out of the water after a relay at Santa Monica College’s Swim Center.

BENDING BACKWARD: Pierce swimmer Bryce Kroetz launches off the block during his backstroke at the Santa Monica Swim Center on Friday. Kroetz and his teammates took 1st place overall in the men's events.

Joe Kukuczka / Roundup

Up next is diver Ryan Anderson.

“Focus on my dive. Get it right,” Anderson said as he climbs the three meter ladder to the diving boar. “Diving is all about motor control and mental preparation.”

After their latest win both men and women are setting their sights on the conference competition.

Now it seems to be first priority to the team, and they are eager and excited to make a strong impression.

FAMILY: Swim coach Judi Terhar congratulates Sareen Hagopian on a strong run Friday.

Joe Kukuczka / Roundup

Everything hinges on competition in the pool, and the Brahmas are itching to get in there.

With two weeks of solid preparation before their next meet, divers and swimmers alike are heading to El Camino College with only one goal— total dominance.

“When Conference (competition) comes, we’ll be rolling hard,” said swimmer Travis Roche.

RESULT: First year diver Ryan Anderson celebrates a high-difficulty dive poolside on Friday as the Pierce swim team took top overall honors in Santa Monica last week.

Joe Kukuczka / Roundup

The team’s motto is at the forefront of the team’s persona, and can be felt across the pool.

From the relay swimmers cutting through the water to the divers twisting and contorting towards it from above, nobody rides a Brahma— nobody.

CONSTANT: Pierce swimmer Jordan Bernstein glides through the water as he completes laps during warm-ups for the Pierce College swim team's Quad Meet against four other colleges at the Santa Monica Swim Center on April 1, 2011. Brahmas dominated and took first place overall.

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