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.