LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego swimming and diving squads head to Long Beach this week, taking part in the Pacific Coast Swimming Conference Championships, February 10-13.  The Tritons will look to repeat as PCSC Champions on both the men’s and women’s side after a impressive showing during the 2009 conference championships, as UCSD walked away with victories in 12 events.  Dan Perdew and Alexandra Henley both finished first in two individual events, while also helping relay teams to wins.

At last year’s PCSC Championships, the 200 medley relay team of Shea Kopp, Sadie O’Brien, Jessica Ferguson, and Aubrey Panis won their event in a school record time of 1:45.29 during the day first day of competition.  The initial day of action also saw record-setting performances from the men’s 200 medley relay and women’s 800 free relay teams. Perdew captured his first individual title of the meet in the 50 free during day two, while also winning as part of the 200 free relay team that included Sam Stromberg, Todd Langland, and Blake Langland. Henley won her first title in the 400 IM during day three and also helped the 400 medley relay team, which included Karla Holman and former Tritons Kendall Bohn and Shannon Simonds, to a win. The Triton men and women sealed their PCSC Championship victories on the final day of action, as Perdew won the 100 free event with a time of 45.26, while Henley, Bohn, and Jennifer Sims were winners in the 200 back, 200 breast, and 200 fly events, respectively.

The Triton men finished with 1561 points during the four-day event, over 400 points ahead of runner-up UC Santa Cruz.  UCSD’s women were able to hold off rival Loyola Marymount by 22 points, 1403 to 1381.  The titles signaled a return to glory for both teams, which had previously won conference championships during the 2007 season.

This year’s squads enter the week after a hard-fought loss to UC Davis on the road.  The Triton women won 7-of-16 events on the day, falling 155-145, despite three individual wins from Henley in the 200 free, 500 free, and 200 IM.  The men also captured 7-of-16, losing by a 174-122 final tally.  Perdew won both the 50 free and 100 fly, and as part of the 400 free relay team.

The PCSC Championships will be the last opportunity for athletes to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships.  Thus far, UCSD has 22 athletes already automatically qualified for the event, 12 on the women’s side and 10 for the men.  Head coach Scott McGihon looks to add at least six more qualifiers in Long Beach, in hopes of surpassing the total of 26 student-athletes who competed during last year’s National Championships in Houston.