Pajer has ‘Eaters ready to go
When Brian Pajer was winning Big West Conference titles in
swimming for UC Irvine, he started planting the seeds of becoming the
coach for the Anteaters. From 1986-1990, Pajer (pronounced Pah-yer)
became an eight-time Big West Conference champion in the 100-yard and
200-yard breaststroke races. He was named Big West swimming Athlete
of the Year in 1987 and 1990, and set conference records in the
100-yard breast (54.26) and the 200-yard breast (1:58.32 in 1990.
Pajer, an NCAA All-American in 1989 and 1990, was undefeated in the
100 and 200 breaststroke in dual meets for all four years of his
collegiate competition.
Nine years later, Pajer came back to coach at his alma mater. As
an assistant he worked and continued to learn under Charlie Schoeber,
who was named UCI director of aquatics this past summer. Then, Pajer
became head coach.
“The biggest thing for me is how much the school and the athletics
has changed in the past 10 years,” said Pajer, who was inducted into
the UCI Athletic Hall of Fame this past February. “The pool has
changed. It’s an improvement. The school in general has changed. It’s
the same in a lot of ways, but there is also so many new
opportunities, that brings a new level of excitement.”
About a week ago, the Pajer Era began, as the UCI swimming and
diving teams went up against Utah in a dual meet at the Anteater
Aquatic Complex. Pajer’s energy and desire to guide the Anteaters to
success has given a shot in the arm to the UCI swimming and diving
squad.
The Anteaters opened the season with losses to Utah, but there
were two school records broken and one meet record broken.
UCI freshman Lara Bjargardottir, who was in the 2000 Olympics for
Iceland, set a school record in the women’s 200-yard freestyle
(1:52.97), and she also won the 200 individual medley (2:08.81). Her
sophomore teammate Molly Donelan broke the oldest school record (24
years old) with her time of 2:08.31 in the 200 butterfly.
Also, sophomore Gonny Shimura set a meet record in the 100
backstroke with a winning time of 1:55.10.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a team that put that much heart
into their swims,” Pajer said. “I was really pleased. They felt real
positive of what they did. It will set the tone for the season.”
The day after the Utah meet, the Anteaters won both team titles at
the UC San Diego Triton Invitational. Donelan set her second school
record in as many days, lowering her 200 fly record to 2:08.07 as she
won the event.
The Anteaters also found success at the Big West Shootout. In the
consolation bracket, the UCI women’s team defeated Cal Poly (100-10),
Cal State Northridge (87-26) and Hawaii (65-20). Bjargardottir won
the 200 free and she collected a victory in the 500 free, as well
with a season-best time of 5:02.18.
“It’s a young group,” Pajer said of his teams. “It’s going to take
a while for them to gain experience. At the end of the season it’s
going to be an impressive group that goes into conference.”
The UCI swimming and diving teams continue their season with a
dual meet at Cal State Bakersfield Nov. 23.
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