Pomona-Pitzer Swim and Dive Win Big in SCIAC 2026 Championships

The Sagehens have proved to be adept aquatic birds. The women’s and men’s teams in swim and dive have picked up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championships, as well as Athlete of the Year recognitions for a Pitzer and a Pomona student-athlete.

Women’s Swim and Dive Wins 26th SCIAC Championship

The Pomona-Pitzer women’s swim and dive team secured its third-straight SCIAC championship and 26th conference title in program history on February 21.

On day one of the championships, the Sagehens’ 800-yard free relay team posted a conference record. Chesna Pelka ’26, Nina Aballea ’27, Ellie Burkhardt PO’29, and Charlotte Dixon PO’28 swam a time of 7:21.56, winning by more than seven seconds and besting the previous SCIAC record time by more than two seconds.

The Sagehens closed day two with a win in the 400-yard medley relay with Taylor Park ’28, Amaia Sherman PO’28, Francesca Coppo PO’27, and Aballea. Burkhardt also finished first in the 500-yard freestyle relay, while Coppo placed first in the 50 free.

Bennett Jones PO’27 posted the team’s first win of day three in the 400-yard individual medley. Aballea then tallied a SCIAC record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:48.59. Sherman also won in the 100-yard backstroke. The Sagehens closed day three with a win in the 200-yard free relay, clocking a meet record time of 1:31.49.

The Sagehens closed out the conference championships with two individual wins and a relay victory. Sherman claimed gold in the 200-yard backstroke, and Aballea won the 100-yard free. The Sagehens’ 400-yard free relay team scored first place as Coppo, Aballea, Pelka, and Sabrina Wang PO’26 clocked in at 3:22.46.

As a team, Pomona-Pitzer finished with 1,050 points to claim its 26th SCIAC title in program history. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) took second while Chapman University placed third.

Head Coach JP Gowdy and staff were named SCIAC Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year following the meet.

Pitzer’s Athlete of the Year in Women’s Swim and Dive

Following the SCIAC Championship, Nina Aballea ’27 was named the SCIAC Women’s Swim and Dive Athlete of the Year. This recognition honors Aballea’s individual wins and her contributions to the team victories throughout the championship.

Last season, Aballea was a SCIAC 800-yard freestyle relay champion, SCIAC 400-yard medley relay champion, and SCIAC 400-yard freestyle relay champion. At last year’s NCAA Championships, she earned 3x All-American honors. She has also achieved academic recognition as a CSCAA Scholar All-American and a member of the SCIAC All-Academic Team.

With Pomona-Pitzer Athletics, Aballea finds as much support for her academic achievements as she does for her athletic aspirations. She is a human biology major with a focus on pre-med at Pitzer College. She engages in research as a biology research assistant at the Department of Natural Sciences of Pitzer and Scripps Colleges. Her roles as the head of aquatic staff and an athletic communications worker for Pomona-Pitzer Athletics have also enhanced her organization and leadership skills as a student-athlete.

Men’s Swim and Dive Wins Fourth SCIAC Championship

The Pomona-Pitzer men’s swim and dive team claimed its fourth SCIAC Championship in program history and third since 2018 on February 21.

The Sagehens posted two individual wins and a relay victory on day four to close out the conference championships. Jack Christy PO’28 secured gold in the 200-yard backstroke, clocking a 1:49.26 in the final. Diego Hodge PO’28 took second with a 1:49.34 while Max Yeoh PO’29 finished third with a 1:50.21 to secure the Sagehen podium sweep. 

Henry Cannon PO’28 won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 45.16. Casey Jacobs PO’27 took third with a 45.41. The Sagehens’ 400-yard free relay team closed the day with a victory, as Nathan Xu PO’29, Adrian Clement PO’26, Jacobs, and Cannon clocked in at 2:58.60.

As a team, Pomona-Pitzer finished with 922 points to claim its fourth SCIAC title in program history. CMS took second and Chapman finished third. 

Tommy Matheis PO’28 was tabbed SCIAC Diver of the Year following the meet for the second consecutive season.

Learn more at Sagehen Athletics.