Ceres High junior Julia Pata competed for the first time at the Sac-Joaquin Section Varsity Girls Swimming Championships earlier this month in Lodi.

Pata placed 16th with a time of 55.21 seconds in the 100 free on May 14 and 24th in the 200 free (2:00.72) on May 12 at Tokay High School.

Julia set personal records in both events.

She topped 40 other girls in the 100 free.

"There was a lot of competition," Bulldogs head coach Sue Garcia said. "She did really well. She always wants to do better. She'll continue to work hard to finish off her career as the school's top swimmer."

Ceres High junior Ciana Sather placed 33rd in the 100 fly (1:04.23).

"It's a big sea of talent out there," Garcia said. "Ciana gave it her best shot."

Ceres High's 200 medley relay team of Sather, Kiera Brownlee, Annie Connors and Pata placed 31st (2:07.28).

Ceres High's 200 free relay team of Sather, Connors, Brownlee and Taylore Bentley placed 34th (1:54.05).

Brownlee replaced Pata, who had to travel from Lodi to Merced on the same day to compete at the Western Athletic Conference Track & Field Championships.

Julia qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-V competition after taking second in the shot put (33-6) and third in the discus (97-1).

"She's a competitive person," Garcia said.

Ceres High's varsity boys 400 free relay team of Bobby Baranski, Gary Dodd, Logan Kier and Tristan Freitas-Scott placed 35th (3:46.07).

Ceres High's varsity boys 200 free relay team of Baranski, Kier, Freitas-Scott and Caleb Bishop placed 36th (1:38.02).

"It's such a joy to coach Julia, Ciana and the whole team," Garcia said. "I'm always happy with how the kids do. They always give their best effort."