OCALA, Fla. – The Pacific men's and women's swimming program heads to the National Invitational Championship in Ocala, Florida from Thursday, March 13 to Saturday, March 15. 

The Tigers will be sending 21 men's and women's swimmers across the country to compete, marking the most under head coach Katelyne Herrington's guidance.
Hear from each of the 21 swimmers as they get prepared to swim in the Sunshine State.

"I'm ready to have fun with the best people and close out the season strong!" said junior Annelise Thomas, who will be competing in the 50 back, 100 back and 200 breast.

"I'm excited to have one last meet with my teammates," said Aidan Scott, who will go in the 100 IM, 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 back.

"My mindset for post-conference meets is that it is another opportunity to execute race details that I've been sharpening all season," said Aidan Vollmar, who will be racing in the 50 fly, 100 fly and 100 IM. "I'm looking forward to racing hard, ending my career and having fun with my teammates."

 "Go out with 3 big booms or go out with a bang," said graduate student Alex Kurotori, who will go toe-to-toe in the 50 back, 100 back, 200 back and 200 IM.

"Last one, fast one!" said senior Mitchell Hopper, who is going up in the 100 fly, 100 IM and 200 IM.

"I couldn't be prouder of the team this season," said senior Paige Sondgeroth, who will be locked in for the 50 breast, 200 breast, 100 IM and 200 IM. "We all worked so hard, and I am so excited to compete with them on a national stage! I couldn't imagine a better way to end my swimming career than by representing this program!"

"I'm excited to go to Ocala for NICs," said senior Leland Baltazar, who looks to be sharp in the 50 back, 100 back and 100 IM. "It'll be my last time competing with my teammates that have become a second family."

"I am excited for one final meet with the Tigers!" senior Jordyn Gonzales said, who will take part in the 800 freestyle relay.

"Heading into this meet, I'm excited for us to compete at a national level and for the seniors to race one last time together as Tigers," said senior Kelly Kermoian, who is in the 400 IM and 200 back.

"I am looking forward to compete one last time with some of my best friends and cherish every moment with our graduating guys," said junior Ethan Cole, who is up for the 50 breast, 100 breast, 100 IM and 200 breast.

"I am so excited to have the opportunity to race with this amazing group of people, swim fast and have fun!" said freshman Christina Agiomamitou, who will race in the 200 free.

"I'm so excited to get the opportunity to travel with this team one last time this season, and I can't wait to watch everyone swim fast!" said freshman Lilliana Noriega.

"I am feeling excited!" said Josie Fields. "I love this team, and it gives me another chance to race with them one last time which I'm really looking forward to!"

"These last couple weeks from conference to NICs have gone by so fast it feels like we are still riding that wave of momentum," said senior Noemi Melendez, who is in the 50 fly, 100 fly and 200 fly. "As a senior and this being my last meet, I'm excited to watch this team put together one last week of incredible swims at a national level."

"We're a great group going to this meet, and I'm excited for the opportunity to end our season at a national level competition," senior Alexia Ferguson said. "For some of us, it's also the final chapter of our swimming careers, so it's a moment we'll all remember!"

"Carpe diem and make this meet extraordinary," said junior Mattia Giurgevich, who will swim in the 50 breast, 100 breast, 100 IM and 200 breast.

"I feel good, and I am looking forward to compete and to beat myself," said freshman Javier Lopez Guillen, who is in the 50 fly, 100 fly and 200 fly. "I just came back from conference with a bittersweet taste because I could not improve my marks, and I was not very satisfied with the way I swam. I feel better prepared mentally and physically and I am looking forward to getting rid of that bad taste in my mouth and to surpass myself."

"I feel confident in our team and the speed we've acquired through the year to perform well at Nationals," said freshman Nate Rasmussen, who will be up in the 100 free, 200 free and 500 free. "I'm looking forward to going to a new state and exploring what goes on there."

"Going into nationals, I am pumped and ready," said Freddie Cumming, who is in the 50 breast, 100 breast, 100 IM and 200 breast. "As a freshman, I never expected to qualify but through the tough training I was able to and am ready to show up."

"I am so excited to be heading into this meet and to have the opportunity to swim with some of our seniors one last time!" sophomore Kate Geiger said. "This is such a hardworking group, and I know it's going to be a blast! Go Tyges!"

"Yesterday is history," said senior Srboljub Filipovic, who is partaking in the 50 breast, 100 breast and 100 IM. "Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift and that's why it's called the present."

All four days of competition can be found on YouTube.

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