Sprinter Jenel Lopez is an incoming freshman that hopes to lead the Cerritos women’s swim team to the state championships this season.

With a total of eight years in swimming, four in a high school varsity team, Lopez is especially excited to be swimming for Cerritos.

“It is definitely different swimming at a college level,” she said. “I’m excited though and hope to be one of the outstanding individuals to lead this team to state championships.”

The returners of this season obtain excellent work ethic and will set the example for the incoming freshmen, said assistant coach Eddie Kim.

He believes the strength of the returners, along with the fast swimming of three of the new members of the team (one of them being his sister), will pave the way for a competitive and successful season.

“Jenel Lopez, Nataly Peng and Gina Kim are the three incoming freshmen that I believe will set the standard for the rest of the girls,” he stated.

“Not only that but the returners of this season are already experienced and provide an example as to how the team’s work ethic should be.”

Returner Stephanie Rosero is confident the team will excel all expectations and will have an incredible season.

“(The team) has a lot more swimmers this season, and faster swimmers at that,” she said.

Due to the talented breaststrokers and the fast long distance swimmers, she feels the team will surpass all other teams in the relay race.

“I am 100 percent sure that our team will be outstanding in the relay,” she exclaimed. “The team has all the potential to have more people at state this season.”

Head coach Sergio Macias is also confident in the team’s potential.

He states, “The team is deeper in terms of the quantity of swimmers and their quality of swimming.”

The swimmers just need to have a positive attitude in and out of the pool, he said.

Lopez, although a new member of the team, thinks the team has the unity and the right attitude that will help it succeed.

“Everyone is like a family here,” she said. “Not only are the swimmers really cool outside of the pool, but during practice everyone tends to be committed in helping everyone else out, whether it is a difficult swimming technique or even freestyle.”