Men's AOTY Samuel Jo Headed To NCAA D-III Champ Denison University

Lancer swimming great Samuel Jo (center) is headed to Denison University in Ohio. Jo is flanked to his left by PCC equipment attendant Dana Stoddard, assistant coach Andrew Barmann, and to his right by PCC head coach Terry Stoddard and athletic director Tony Barbone, photo by Richard Quinton.
Lancer swimming great Samuel Jo (center) is headed to Denison University in Ohio. Jo is flanked to his left by PCC equipment attendant Dana Stoddard, assistant coach Andrew Barmann, and to his right by PCC head coach Terry Stoddard and athletic director Tony Barbone, photo by Richard Quinton.
Posted: Aug 22, 2018

Samuel Jo, the Pasadena City College Men's Athlete of the Year for 2017-2018, will continue his swimming career and education at NCAA Division III national champion Denison University (Ohio).

Jo leaves PCC with a number of accomplishments, including twice earning South Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year honors, winning three state titles (back-to-back years capturing the gold medal in the 100-yard backstroke), setting three school records (all at May's state meet) and being named All-American 13 times combined in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Earlier this year, he helped the Lancers win their first-ever dual conference crown at an undefeated 7-0, and then aided PCC to place sixth place at the CCCAA State Championships, the highest finish by a Lancers squad since the program's last state team title in 1978. Jo was guided in his two seasons by Lancers head coach Terry Stoddard.

Jo will be attending a D-III powerhouse in the Big Red of Denison, a college that has won four national team crowns in the past eight years and he will swim under Gregg Parini, an 11-time NCAA National Coach of the Year. https://www.denisonbigred.com/sports/mswimdive/2017-18/releases/20180324v8efmx

A kinesiology major, Jo posted an impressive 3.44 GPA in the classroom. Jo leaves PCC as the greatest backstroke swimmer in the college's history.