Moldenhauer hits 3M Zone qualifying standard to lead Bears

GREELEY – Junior diver Sara Moldenhauer paced the Northern Colorado swimming & diving team on Friday evening in a dual against Colorado State as she hit her NCAA Zone Regional qualifying standard on the three-meter board in winning the event with 294.90 points.

Moldenhauer's total moves her into third on the Northern Colorado all-time chart. She also finished second in the one-meter with a career-high total of 268.80, which elevates her to fourth all-time.

"Sara has really had a break-out year," said Head Coach Kelly McClanahan. "She continually works hard at her new dives and it is paying off in dividends. She re-made her zone cut on one-meter tonight, and made it for the first time on three-meter. She's very close to the school records and performed both season bests tonight.  {Diving Coach} Kevin {Oswalt} and I are very happy with her showing tonight."

The Bears dropped the dual 187-111 to the Rams, but McClanahan wasn't too upset by the team point total.

"The girls swam hard tonight," said McClanahan. "The times weren't anything to celebrate, but as I mentioned before now is the time we concern ourselves with places. The girls really raced well to the walls and had some great touch-outs. They've had an incredibly hard two weeks of training, and have pulled through with a lot of courage tonight. We still need to refine a few things, like starts, turns and getting our hands on the wall first in some of the higher positions.  But all in all, I am fairly content with tonight's performance."

Senior Jennifer Smith, in the next-to-last competition of her career in Butler-Hancock, won the 50 meter free with a time of 24.99, winning by 0.3 for the only victory in the lane pool for the Bears. Kira Alger (25.50) and Jessica Reed-Baum (25.60) were just off the lead in third and fourth places, respectively.

Senior Sammy Leonard and freshman Brenna Boese were second and third, respectively in the 100 back, finishing just 0.13 of a second apart in 1:01.85 and 1:01.98.

Boese (55.32), Alger (55.80) and Reed-Baum (56.13) finished second-fourth, respectively, for the Bears in the 100 free.

Senior Hannah Halstrom and freshman Jasmine Fryrear also were second and third in the 200 fly after swimming 2:15.67 and 2:19.61.

Sophomore Gina Cernohous touched the wall second in the 1000 free in 10:59.01. Freshman Casey Wolter was second in the other distance event, the 500 free, timing a 5:22.03.

Sophomore Renee Stephens clocked a 1:08.58 for second place in the 100 breast and swam a 2:30.54 for second in the 200 breast.

In the 200 back, sophomore Courtney Van Oost timed a 2:10.84 for second, while Leonard was third in 2:15.45.

Halstrom narrowly edged out Van Oost for second place in the 100 fly, with just 0.01 separating the Bears. Halstrom swam a 1:02.44, while Van Oost timed a 1:02.45 and fourth place was less than a half-second behind the two, making for a very exciting finish before the final break for diving.

Van Oost also finished second in her third event of the night, the 200 IM. She swam a 2:12.72, out-touching Arianne Lujan from Colorado State by 0.03.

The quartet of Boese, Reed-Baum, Leonard and Alger concluded the night by winning the 400 free relay in a time of 3:40.49, winning the race by over three seconds to cap the night off on a high note.

The Bears conclude their regular season next Saturday, hosting Wyoming and Colorado School of Mines at 5 pm. The evening is senior night as the three seniors on the squad will be honored for their contributions. The ceremony will happen during the first diving break, as diving will not take place.