Pomona-Pitzer Women’s Swim & Dive Wins 25th SCIAC Championship

The Pomona-Pitzer women’s swimming and diving team clinched the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship in February after strong performances on day four. The Sagehens finished the meet with 1051.5 points, ahead of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (886) and Chapman (442.5). 

The conference title is the Sagehens’ sixth in the last nine years and their 25th championship in program history. JP Gowdy and his staff were named SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year following the meet.

Pitzer’s Valerie Mello ’25 was named SCIAC Athlete of the Year. Mello won the 100-yard freestyle on day four and 200-yard freestyle (with a SCIAC record time of 1:49.78) on day three of the championships.

 Izzy Yoon PO’28, who was named SCIAC Newcomer of the Year, posted Pomona-Pitzer’s first win of day four in the 200-yard backstroke. The Sagehens swept the podium in the event, with Charlotte Dixon PO’28 taking second and Amaia Sherman PO’28 placing third. Mollie Appl PO’28 came in fourth. 

In the 100-yard freestyle, Pitzer’s Nina Aballea ’27 took second and Francesca Coppo PO’27 placed third. The Sagehens secured yet another podium sweep in the 200-yard breaststroke, with Emmie Appl PO’25 winning first place. May Ling Roberts PO’25 took second and Elise Jones PO’25 placed third.  

The Sagehens wrapped up the night with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay as Coppo, Aballea, Dixon, and Mello swam to a meet record time of 3:21.54.

On the first day of the SCIAC Championships, Pomona-Pitzer also earned an event win in the 800-yard freestyle relay, with Karolina Dzieciol PO’25, Dixon, Aballea, and Mello cruising to a time of 7:25.55 and winning by nearly nine seconds.

Pomona-Pitzer secured a series of event wins on the third day as well, first by Bennett Jones PO’27 in the 400-yard IM. Yoon posted a win in the 100-yard backstroke.

Adapted from the Pomona-Pitzer Athletics press release “Women’s Swim & Dive Wins 25th SCIAC Championship.” To learn more, please visit Sagehen Athletics.