The track and field teams prepare to compete in the State Championships this weekend, while the rest of the Cerritos College sports teams are in the off season.
The semester began with the men’s basketball team making a run toward the playoffs.
After a 10-3 conference record handed the Falcons the South Coast Conference South Division title, they then suffered a defeat in the first round of the Southern California Regionals losing to Antelope Valley College 69-54.
As for the women’s basketball team, an inexperienced and injury plagued team played a huge part in the team’s 8-8 conference record which would keep it out of the playoffs.
The men’s swim season ended with a 17th place finish at the State Championships and a third place finish in conference.
Three school records were broken in three relays at the South Coast Conference Championships, including the 400-yard medley relay, the 400-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Head coach Joe Abing sees the season as an accomplishment, “Our men’s swim season was a success. I’m excited to see many of the freshman return for another successful season next year.”
On the women’s side of the pool, the Falcons finished in 11th place at the State Championships.
It was a season in which three school records were also broken at the South Coast Conference Championships including the 200-yard freestyle relay, 100-yard individual medley and the 200-yard medley relay.
A 5-1 conference record was good enough to give the men’s tennis team the conference title.
Freshman Nathan Eshmade, who was seeded No. 2 in the State Championships, was defeated by No. 1 seeded Sam Bertram of Fresno City College in the semi finals of the State Championships to end the Falcons’ season.
After coming off a 7-29 season last year, the baseball team slightly improved this season as it ended with an overall 14-29 record.
Head coach Ken Gaylord admitted that working with a young team isn’t easy.
“We had a very young team that worked very hard. There is a lot to build on,” he said.
As for the softball team, it ended the season winning 10 out of its last 11 games and finishing with a remarkable 16-1 home record.
However, the Falcons were knocked out of the first round of the CCCAA Regional Playoffs in a best of three-game series to San Diego Mesa College.
The women’s track and field team placed first in the Southern California Championships while the men’s side finished in fourth.
The teams now await to compete in the State Championships that will be held this weekend at College of San Mateo.
Christopher Richardson, director of track and field, is in his first year at Cerritos College and is loving the experience.
“The track and field season has and is going better than I could have ever expected, especially implementing fairly new administrative and team practices and procedures,” he said.
Richardson is happy with all his athletes so far and hopes he can close out the spring sports season on a good note.
“We were fortunate to have some very talented athletes and watched some athletes continuously exceed expectations.”
