LA MIRADA, Calif. --- After a long seven months away from competition and a time filled with transition it was time to have some fun on Friday as Biola Swim & Dive opened its 2017-18 season with the annual Pacific Collegiate Swim & Dive Conference relay meet.
 
For new head coach, Ryan Kauth, the day was all about being free and easy and swimming relaxed swims while working the way into a busy meet schedule. The Eagles had the opportunity to swim head-to-head with some of the best teams the region has to offer: California Baptist, Azusa Pacific and Concordia University Irvine to name a few.
 
Biola's men found top-5 finishes in four of their 10 relays and finished fourth overall, while the women's contingent managed to earn top-5 placing in five of 10 races.
 
"I could tell they were having a lot of fun and swimming relaxed races, which is important for this time of year," said Kauth. "I told them to just go out and compete, and I think that's exactly what they did. I'm incredibly proud of the swimming that was displayed today, and I'm excited to see what tomorrow holds."
 
The highest finish for any one relay came in the women's 800-yard freestyle relay and women's 400-yard medley relay. Both teams of four managed a third-place finish. Kaylyn Schull, Emily Silzel, Rebecca Brandt and Lisa Tixier made up the 400-medley team, while Rachel Stinchcomb, Bethany Harper and Silzel and Tixier formed the 800-freestyle squad.
 
 Both third-place finishes came behind teams from California Baptist and Fresno Pacific. CBU and FPU finished first and second by final team scores for both genders.
 
The season-opening PCSC meet is always a fun one to take in. The unique relay events from day one are followed up by some interesting individual pentathlons during day two. The Eagles are back out at SPLASH! at 10:00 a.m. Saturday to finish up the first weekend.