WAC Championships: Day Four

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, February 27. BOISE State University won its first Western Athletic Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Championship on Saturday night at the Josh Davis Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas. The Broncos finished the meet with 547 points, followed by New Mexico State with 466. San Jose State was third with 453, while Nevada placed fourth with 443. Northern Arizona finished fifth with 438, followed by Hawai‘i (392), San Diego (329), Idaho (199) and Fresno State (193).

Boise State sophomore Amber Boucher earned WAC Swimmer of the Year honors. Hawai‘i junior Stephanie De Lima was named the WAC Diver of the Year, giving the Rainbow Wahine that award in eight of the last nine seasons. New Mexico State head coach Rick Pratt repeated as WAC Coach of the Year after leading his team to a second-place finish, while Mike Brown of Hawai‘i was voted Diving Coach of the Year for the fifth year in a row and sixth time in his career. Nevada's Jiao Jiao Mi was awarded Freshman of the Year.

In the first race of the night, New Mexico State's Liz Thomson won the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:58.60. San Diego's Sarah Gleason was second (16:59.89) and Hawai‘i freshman Melissa Myers placed third (17:10.54).

Northern Arizona freshman Fi Connell won her second individual gold medal, winning the 200-yard backstroke with an NCAA provisional time of 1:57.50. Last year's champion, San Jose State's Heather Denman, was second with a time of 1:58.72, also a provisonal mark. Nevada's Jeannette Tour took bronze medal honors (2:00.68).

Boise State sophomore Stephanie North repeated as WAC champion in the 100 free with a time of 49.86. Her teammate, Amber Boucher, was second (49.96), also for the second straight year. Both times were NCAA provisional marks. Nevada freshman Jiao Jiao Mi placed third in a time of 50.41.

New Mexico State's Maria Spies also repeated her performance from last year with an NCAA provisional winning time of 2:16.06 in the 200 breaststroke. Nevada's Margaret Doolittle placed second (2:16.99) while San Jose State's Kirsten Trammell was third (2:17.44).

Boise State's Christine Raininger won her second event of the meet, taking the title in the 200 butterfly in 2:01.56. Nevada's Gabby Guieb placed second with a time of 2:01.83 and Hawai‘i's Alyssa Manlow was third (2:03.96). All three are freshmen.

Stephanie De Lima of Hawai‘i won the 3-meter diving with a score of 333.10, giving her a sweep of the three diving events. It is the first time in the history of the WAC championships that a diver has won all three events in the same year. Her teammate, Hannah Bocksnick, was second (328.55) and Northern Arizona's Kristy Ardavanis took third place honors (311.50).

Boise State topped off the competition by winning the 400 free relay in an NCAA provisional time of 3:23.02 with the team of Boucher, Chelsea Lopus, Stevie Hughey and North. San Jose State took the silver (3:23.35) and San Diego won bronze (3:26.13).
Individual Honors (as voted upon by the WAC coaches)
Swimmer of the Year – Amber Boucher, So., Boise State
Diver of the Year – Stephanie De Lima, Jr., Hawai‘i
Freshman of the Year – Jiao Jiao Mi, Nevada
Diving Coach of the Year – Mike Brown, Hawai‘i
Coach of the Year – Rick Pratt, New Mexico State

Team Scores
1. Boise State 547
2. San Jose State 466
3. New Mexico State 453
4. Northern Arizona 443
5. Nevada 438
6. Hawai‘i 392
7. San Diego 329
8. Idaho 199
9. Fresno State 193

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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