Giants topple Merced, Fresno City in conference swimming and diving tri-meet
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
Zachary Welch won a pair of events individually to lead College of the Sequoias' swimming and diving team to a Bay Valley Conference tri-meet victory April 23 in Merced.
The Giants' combined men's and women's teams scored 1,226 points. Merced was second at 842, followed by Fresno City with 301.
Welch, a freshman from Exeter High, won the men's 50 free (22.3 seconds) and 100 free (48.3).
The men's team also received standout performances from freshmen Caleb Peltzer (Exeter) and Josh Peters (Redwood).
Peltzer won the 100 breast in 1:07.2 and placed second in the 100 butterfly in a personal-best time of 55.69.
Peters finished first in the 200 individual medley (2:06.3) and second in the 100 free (48.4).
For Sequoias' women, sophomores Anna Nippoldt (Immanuel) and Audrey Bradford (Lindsay) each posted lifetime bests while going 1-2 in the 100 free. Nipplodt clocked 58.1, while Bradford touched the wall in 58.3.
The Giants' women also received individual wins from freshmen Alyssa Bodoh (Porterville) and Alex Salazar (Redwood).
Bodoh captured the 500 free in 5:55.2, while Salazar was first in the 100 back in 1:13.6.
The Giants compete next in a Bay Valley Conference tri-meet against Clovis and Fresno City on April 30 at COS.
Sequoias will then travel for a meet May 7 in Shasta, and May 14 for the conference championships May 14 in Merced.
