SOUTH GATE, Calif. — Brandon Pon finished second in the 500 yard freestyle and Kayla Yip came in second in the 50 yard freestyle to headline the opening day of the Winter Collegiate Invitation at the South Gate Swim Stadium for the University of La Verne Swimming and Diving teams.

Pon was the top NCAA Division III finisher in the 500 freestyle final. The junior touched at 4:42.49 behind Kobe Gall from Division II Concordia Irvine.

Yip was the only Division III qualifier to make the 50 freestyle final. Yip beat out six Division II swimmers with a time of 24.86.

Freshman Lorenzo DeLeon scored a fourth place finish for the Leopards in the 200 individual medley. The first year touched the wall at 2:01.59 just behind Eric Forbes from Redlands. 

The Leopards turned in top-five finishes in all four relays on day one of the invite. The team of Mary Hanna, Rachel Fox, Rachel Miyoga, and Yip finished first among DIII teams and third overall in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:41.18

The same squad entered the 400 yard medley relay to finish fourth finishing with a time of 4:09.78.

On the men's side, Kristofer Grigorian, Javier De Santiago, CJ Woodward, and DeLeon took fifth in the 200 yard freestyle relay touching at 1:31.81.

DeLeon, De Santiago, Woodward, and Guillermo Yanes finished off day one with a fifth place finish in the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:44.62 in the final event of the day.

The Leopards continue the Collegiate Winter Invitational tomorrow with prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m.