San Diego St. Still Perfect After Meet With Colorado State, Tulane, North Texas

SAN DIEGO, California, January 10. SAN Diego State, the reigning Mountain West Conference champions, remained undefeated this season with a sweep of Colorado State, North Texas and Tulane this morning at the Aztec Aquaplex. Colorado State defeated North Texas and Tulane to finish 2-1, while North Texas also defeated Tulane to finish 1-2. Tulane finished 0-3 in the meet.

San Diego State Press Release

San Diego State won all 12 individual swimming events and captured both relays as it defeated Colorado State (149-137), North Texas (160-125) and Tulane (159-123) in a triple dual meet Friday morning at the Aztec Aquaplex. With the trio of wins, SDSU improves it dual meet record to 10-0 on the season.

Freshman Frida Berggren won three individual races including both the 200 free (1:52.50) and 500 free (5:03.52) along with the 200 individual medley (2:04.53). Her time in the 200 IM was the fourth-fastest ever turned in at the Aquaplex. Natilee Ruiz’s second-place mark of 2:06.22 goes into the facility record list as the eighth-best.

Another first-year Aztec, Anika Apostalon, captured the 100 and 200 backstroke events with times of 56.23 and 2:01.89 respectively. She was also a member of the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams as well. Her time in the 100 backstroke was the second-fastest in the history of the facility.

Senior Mikaela Macklin was also a double winner for SDSU as she won the 200 butterfly in 2:05.10 and came back later to take the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:18.97.

Five other Aztecs won individual races including the threesome of Laura Day in the 200 breast (1:04.95), Chelsea Bailey in the 50 free (23.79) and Loreen Whitfield in the 100 butterfly (58.04). Those three had combined with Apostalon to open the meet by taking the 200 medley relay with a mark of 1:44.25, sixth best-ever at the Aztec Aquaplex.

In addition, Caroline Mitchell won the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:25.18 while Whitney Weisz was the winner in the 100 freestyle in 51.25.

In the diving competition, Shannon Finigan (213.95) and Chandler Marshall 210.30) placed sixth and seventh respectively on the 3-meter board in a field of 18 divers. On the 1-meter springboard, Marlee Kersting (222.70) finished eighth (of 18) with Finigan (222.55) and Marshall (218.45) right behind her. Fellow Aztec Alicia Powder’s mark of 212.00 put her just in back of Chandler.

San Diego State will conclude the dual meet portion of its 2013-14 schedule in two weeks when it hosts the University of San Diego on Saturday, Jan. 25, at noon at the Aztec Aquaplex.

Colorado State Press Release

The Colorado State swimming & diving team competed on Friday for the first time in seven weeks, but had little rust to shake off, going 2-1 at Aztec Aquaplex. The Rams earned convincing wins over North Texas (220.5-79.5) and Tulane (223-76), and fell just short against undefeated San Diego State (149-137), the reigning Mountain West champions.

“I’m really pleased with our performances today,” Head Coach Christopher Woodard said. “There were a couple swims I think we gave up, but overall, I’m very happy.”

CSU had several key performances on the day, but the biggest were saved for the end. CSU athletes took first in each of the final four events, allowing the team to build on its two leads and make a comeback attempt against the Aztecs that eventually ran out of events.

“Our girls weren’t satisfied once they had the lead,” Woodard said. “They continued to pour it on.”

In the 100 Butterfly, the 13th event of the day, junior Tess Simpson earned the Rams’ first top finish, winning with a time of 58:04. The Rams also won the 200 IM (Jessica Shepard, 2:10.90) and 400 Freestyle Relay (3:33.95), in addition to 3-Meter Diving.

“Our divers were absolutely fantastic,” Woodard said. “It was a nice re-introduction to the Mountain West for Melissa Bollig, and we had a lot of great swims from several athletes.”

CSU swept the 3-meter event, claiming the top three spots, led by sophomore Ariana Milone (290.95). Finishing second was junior transfer Melissa Bollig (254.35). It was Bollig’s first-ever meet with the Rams after missing the first half of the season due to NCAA transfer rules.

In addition to CSU’s first-place finishes, several Rams placed in the top three, including: Allison Arnold (500 and 1000 Freestyle); Cristina Bassani (100 Breaststroke); Bollig (3-Meter Diving); Yana Garvey (100 and 200 Backstroke); Felicia Gilson (100 Butterfly); Paige Greely (1-Meter and 3-Meter Diving); Alexandra Jacobs (200 IM); Megan Lloyd (200 Breaststroke and 200 Butterfly); Gabby Morley (500 Freestyle); and the Rams’ 400 Freestyle and 200 Medley Relay teams.

Arnold’s time in the 1000 Freestyle was CSU’s best of the season by nearly 12 seconds. Yana Garvey (200 Backstroke, 2:03.55) and Megan Lloyd (200 Breaststroke, 2:21.06) also had CSU’s top times of the season on Friday. Although she had already qualified, Milone’s score on the 3-meter boards once again was NCAA Zones qualifying.

The victories give the Rams a 4-3 dual-meet record entering the team’s home contest vs. New Mexico on Saturday, Jan. 18. The meet, which will begin at 11 a.m., is Senior Day. Admission is free.

“We got some really solid work done this week, and now it’s time to get back, refresh and get ready for the Lobos,” Woodard said.

North Texas Press Release

The North Texas swimming and diving team won its first meet of the season, defeating Conference USA foe Tulane but falling to San Diego State and Colorado State in a triple dual hosted by SDSU.

“I think San Diego State, Colorado State, and Tulane provided us with a great opportunity to see where we are at this point in the season,” said head coach Brendon Bray. “After a very hard week of training, it was nice to come out with a win against Tulane and compete well against SDSU and CSU.”

Sophomore Mona Groteguth finished third overall in the 100 back behind SDSU and CSU and was the Mean Green’s highest individual finisher of the meet.

The Mean Green topped the Green Wave in eight events, insuring a 162-137 win.

North Texas will face Tulane again on Jan. 18, this time in Denton at 11 a.m.

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