Over the course of an extensive season, the Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) Swim and Dive teams were no strangers to the spotlight. With a first-place team finish for the women’s team and a second-place team finish for the men’s team at the SCIAC Championships in February, the Sagehens showed off their postseason flair.
Among standout successes for the Hens, perhaps no performances were more defining than those of Valerie Mello PZ ’25 and Kyle Huang PO ’27.
Mello and Huang both received the SCIAC Swim and Dive Athlete of the Year awards. The awards, which are voted on by all SCIAC coaches, were a testament to the outstanding performances of the two Sagehen swimmers throughout the regular season and at the championship meet.
The women’s team took their 25th championship trophy in dominant fashion, led by record-breaking swims from Mello.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Mello broke the SCIAC record of Sagehen legend Alex Turvey PO ’24, breaking the 1:50:00 time barrier in a race that is not her main event. For Mello, who is a sprinter, the 200 freestyle was a formidable challenge.
And yet, she proved up to the task, taking on the challenge in a performance that demonstrated why she was named Swim and Dive Athlete of the Year.
“Yeah, it was really special,” Mello said. ”Just putting in the work every day at practice and training with some of the amazing mid-distance swimmers that we have on our team really helped.”
Mello didn’t stop there; she also anchored three relay-winning teams.
“It was a tough one for sure, but I put a lot of work in for it this year,” she said.
While the women were in control from the outset, Huang and the men capped off the meet with a gritty win.
For Huang, who dominated the 400-yard individual medley in just under four minutes, the SCIAC Championship was a meet that had been circled on the calendar for quite some time.
“I’m really happy with how I did, and it’s always super exciting to be there because you got the whole team cheering for everyone,” Huang said.
The most energetic moment of the championships for Huang came at the end of the meet when he helped lead the 400-yard freestyle relay team to the title over rivals Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS). After finishing second to the Stags in many of the relays prior, this win was crucial for Huang and the Sagehens.
“We knew that we had one more chance to beat CMS in a relay, and I think that’s what really pushed us to do what we were able to do,” Huang said.
At a point in the season where there are so many variables to consider, Mello and Huang displayed what months of dedication can lead to.
Head Coach Jean-Paul Gowdy and his coaching staff, who were named SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year, explained how Huang and Mello’s commitment had been evident throughout the season.
“They were good, they were consistent,” Gowdy said. “And that’s a compliment.”
Earlier in the season, on Dec. 7 at the PP-CMS dual meet, Huang took both the 200-yard and 400-yard IM, while Mello won the 100-yard freestyle and anchored the winning 200-yard freestyle relay.
For Gowdy, both Mello and Huang carry a presence that is just as important as their swimming talents.
“Kyle is very good at balancing when it’s important to lock in and be focused on what’s in front of you, and to stay relaxed and not be so wound up about the big race,” Gowdy said.
Huang himself noted the importance of not focusing too much on expectations.
“I try not to pay too much attention to how fast I’m going in practice, and just try to stay loose and have fun with the team,” Huang said. “The team means a lot [to] me. ”
Huang and Mello have this in common, according to Gowdy. He said that a strong feature of the women’s team over the years has been the healthy lightheartedness brought on by swimmers like Mello.
“Her ability to both perform really well … and also keep things light … keeps people’s mindsets in a good place and reminds them of the moment, and not the meaning of it all,” Gowdy said.
To both earn the SCIAC Swim and Dive Athlete of the Year honor was special for Mello and Huang, and for the P-P Swim and Dive team as a whole.
“Our team culture is really special, and it was really cool to get that award alongside Kyle,” Mello said. “The athlete of the year recognition really puts into words how much effort he and I both put in practice, and it’s really nice to be recognized like that.”
Both athletes will be competing at the NCAA Championships starting Wednesday, March 19.
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