Swimming & Diving has strong start at Mesa State
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Northern Colorado swimming & diving team started its season at the Mesa State College Intermountain Shootout, winning a pair of duals against Mesa State and Adams State. The Bears defeated the Mavericks 216-155, while they defeated the Grizzlies 293-48.
"The girls battled it out in a tough line-up of events this weekend," said Head Coach Kelly McClanahan. "In a typical meet we only compete in a (maximum) of four events and this weekend the girls posted eight events to the boards in two days. After traveling all day yesterday, they really dug down deep to show their best, but we faltered in some areas. However, in true AquaBear fashion, the girls put the evening's performances behind them and really churned up the pool today. To have four top 10 all-time performances in our first meet of the year is amazing! Courtney van Oost looked like she shot out of a cannon on the 200 back, and completely dominated the event. Our IMers and breaststrokers really took over their events. Kelly and Sarah completely owned the boards."
The 200 yard medley relay team of Sammy Leonard, Amanda Donegan, Gina Riggle and JJ Smith won the meet with a pool record time of 1:51.10. The time is also the ninth fastest in school history.
The Bears also won the 200 free relay after Leonard, Riggle, Hattie Oatts and Smith timed a 1:42.83, setting a new pool record and swimming the 10th fastest relay time in school history.
Freshman Courtney Van Oost won the 400 IM by over a second, posting a time of 4:40.25. Senior Tori Gutt finished third after posting a time of 4:43.60. Senior Alisha Dauman was also fifth in 5:00.65. Van Oost made it a double for the weekend, winning the 100 back in 1:00.61. Leonard was third in 1:02.67 and freshman Jamie Byrne finished fifth in 1:04.28.
Gutt and Van Oost swept the top two places in the 200 IM. Gutt swam a 2:14.48 to set the pool record, while Van Oost finished in 2:14.57. Van Oost continued her stellar meet, winning the 200 back with a pool record time of 2:07.75.
The Bears swept four of the top five spots in the 50 free, with junior JJ Smith winning in 25.30. Riggle was second with a time of 25.36, while freshman Kira Alger was fourth (25.94) and Leonard fifth (26.13).
NC also finished one-through-four in the 100 breast. Gutt won the event in 1:08.89, while Riggle was second (1:09.59), Donegan third (1:10.97) and Roberson fourth (1:12.13). Gutt was also second in the 200 fly in 2:19.50.
In the 400 freestyle relay, the quartet of Gutt, Alger, Leonard and Smith won after combining for a 3:42.85.
Freshman Christina Gregory won the 50 fly in 27.79, while Alisha Dauman was third in 28.38. Riggle won the 100 fly in 1:01.74.
In the 200 breast, Gutt, Donegan, Riggle and Roberson were the first four to touch the wall. Gutt won the race in 2:28.98.
Freshman Marta Roberson swam a 2:02.02 to finish fourth in the 200 free, while teammates Hannah Halstrom (2:03.21) and Amanda Donegan (2:03.38) were fifth and sixth, respectively.
Sophomore Tatum Boehnke clocked a 18:55.30 to finish third in the 1650 free. Donegan also finished third in the 500 free, timing a 5:28.32 and then came back to win the 50 breast with her time of 32.78.
In the 100 free, Smith, Alger and Roberson placed second through fourth, respectively.
Kelly Schmeckpeper-Cook scored 392.80 points to win the 1-meter diving, while Sara Moldenhauer placed second with her total of 354.25. The pair also took the top two spots in the 3-meter event with Cook tallying 365.35 points and Moldenhauer 333.65.
"The girls really showed their teamwork by winning all but one relay. All in all, on paper, it was a good meet for us. However, we have a lot to work on, and still a ways to go to be the team we have the potential to be. It's time to bear down, bury our heads in the work, and learn how to capitalize on every asset we have on this young team."
