Pitto enjoying final run in the pool
Accomplishments: On Thursday afternoon, Lodi High girls swimmer Gianni Pitto was working out with her teammate at Tokay High’s pool.
How ironic that the pool that Pitto, a senior, was practicing was also the same one in which she broke a Sac-Joaquin Section record.
Competing at the section’s finals on May 12, Pitto set the new section record in the girls 100 breaststroke with a time of 1 minute, 1.66 seconds. That led to winning the event and beating out Christian Brothers’ Kristina
Murphy, who had a time of 1:01.85. Murphy’s record was 1:03.83 that was set last year.
“It was always in the back of my mind,” said Pitto of visualizing of breaking the section record in the breaststroke. “It becomes real as you get closer to it.”
According to Lodi coach John Griffin, Pitto is the first Flames’ swimmer to break a section record at the school in a decade.
Shortly after breaking the section record, Pitto said the swim coaches from the Liberty University, where she will be attending this fall, contacted her via text messages and phone conversa- tions. Liberty University is in Lynchburg, Va.
“After I broke the record, they texted me, telling me congratulations on my new time,” Pitto said.
In addition to making a splash in the breaststroke, Pitto continued her final run as a high school swimmer by taking second place in the 200 individual medley at 1:46.61. She was also part of the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams that shined at the section meet. In the freestyle, Lodi took fifth at 1:36.65 and fourth in the medley at 1:46.71.
But there’s no time for Pitto and her teammates to celebrate at the section finals last weekend. Today, Pitto and nine Lodi swimmers will be making the trek to Clovis, which is the site of the California Interscholastic Federation Swimming and Diving Championships. The two-day trials and finals will take place at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex at Clovis High.
“I’m just focusing on the state meet,” Pitto said. “Practices have been pretty good (this week).”
Pitto is returning to the state meet for a third consecutive year. She’s hoping to make a bigger splash in her final trip to the event — earning a medal. The top six finishers in each event earn a medal. The success she’s had this season and recent weeks as a Lodi High swimmer will not be reflected by her at this time.
“I’d rather think about it,” said Pitto of reflecting on her stellar career.
Pitto has been swimming since 7 years-old, and competitively since 12.
Contact reporter Mike Bush at mikeb@lodinews.com.Followon Twitter :@ M Bush Lo di Sports.