Jan. 2, 2008
Complete Release and Top Times/Marks in PDF Format
SAN DIEGO -
THIS WEEK
After a four week break, the San Diego State swimming and diving team (2-2, 0-2 Mountain West Conference) will host its first-ever meet at the Aztec Aquaplex on Friday, Jan. 4, when it entertains MWC foes TCU and Air Force at 1 p.m. PT.
PREVIOUSLY ON THE MESA
In its last outing, the Aztecs dropped a 161-81 decision at Wyoming on Dec. 8. Senior Ana Dowell posted SDSU's only first-place performance as she captured the 100 butterfly in a time of 1:00.21. Three other Aztecs recorded second-place finishes, including freshman Brooke Vessey (100 back), junior Rosalie Raymond (500 free) and sophomore Jessica Morrill (100 breast).
SCOUTING THE HORNED FROGS
In his 29th year as TCU's head swimming and diving coach, Richard Sybesma has guided the Frogs to a 4-4 overall record and a 1-3 mark in MWC action. TCU returns four all-MWC peformers from last season, including Stephanie Futscher, Meredith Grubb, Katie Rosen and Cheryl Townsend. The Frogs were last in action at the UNLV Winter Invitational where six individuals earned top 10 finishes during the three-day event (Dec. 15-17).
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Air Force is 2-5 overall and 0-3 in league meets. The Falcons are led by 2006-07 all-conference performer Jane Hwang. Despite Hwang's first-place showings in both the 200 free and the 200 IM, the Falcons suffered a 209-82 loss at Northern Colorado in their last meet (Dec. 7). Casey Converse enters his 17th year as the women's swimming and diving coach at the Academy.
SERIES HISTORY
Since the inception of the MWC in 1999-00, SDSU trails the series with TCU, 2-0. The Frogs defeated the Aztecs 71-40 on Nov. 18, 2006, in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Aztecs lead the series with Air Force, 6-2, and won the last meeting (161-138) in Fort Collins, Colo., on Oct. 28, 2006. SDSU holds the 3-0 advantage in San Diego.
THE COACHING STAFF
Mike Shrader, who spent the past eight years as the head coach at Nevada-Reno, begins his first season at San Diego State. While at Nevada, Shrader led the Wolf Pack to an 89-12-1 record, two conference titles and four NCAA championship appearances.
Brendon Bray, who came to The Mesa from the University of Washington, begins his first season as an assistant coach at SDSU, while Jim Wynne enters his sixth year as the Aztec diving coach.
DOWELL SHINES EARLY
Senior Ana Dowell led the Aztecs at Wyoming on Dec. 8, capturing the 100 fly for SDSU's only first-place finish of the day. Dowell also won the 200 free at Cal State East Bay (Dec. 3) and swam a personal-best 54.33 in the 100 free at Utah (Nov. 17). Dowell currently holds the team's top times of the season in both the 50 and 100 free.
ATKINSON LEADS DIVERS
Sophomore Caitlin Atkinson recorded a season-best 241.20 in the three-meter diving event at Wyoming (Dec. 8), where she placed third. Atkinson was also the only Aztec to qualify for the finals in both springboard events at the USC Diving Invitational on Nov. 2.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Since the 1999-00 season, the San Diego State women's swimming and diving team has called the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center its "home." But this year, the squad makes the transition from the Kroc Center to a state-of-the-art swimming facility on campus, the Aztec Aquaplex.
The 112,000 square-foot Aztec Aquaplex features two pools, one for competition and another for recreation, in addition to a hydrotherapy spa. The competition pool can accommodate a multitude of swimming and diving events with its one- and three-meter springboards.
AZTEC NOTES
- Of the 29 swimmers and divers on SDSU's roster, 15 are either freshmen or sophomores.
- The Aztecs captured every event in its non-conference meet at Cal State East Bay.
- Senior Ana Dowell swam a personal best in the 100 free on Nov. 17 at Utah.
- Seniors Brittany Daly (500 and 1,000 free) and Katie Smith (200 back, 200 IM) each hold two of the Aztecs' top times of the season.
- San Diego State was scheduled to host its first two meets of the season at the Aztec Aquaplex, but they were postponed due to the wildfires in San Diego County.
- Of the cancelled dual meets, Air Force has been rescheduled for Jan. 4, and Colorado State will make its way to San Diego on Jan. 9. The meets against New Mexico and UNLV have yet to be rescheduled.
ON DECK
The Aztecs will hit the road for two meets next week, beginning with a short trip to USD on Wednesday, Jan. 9, where SDSU will square off against the host Toreros, Boise State and MWC foe Colorado State at noon PT. The Aztecs will then travel to Provo, Utah for a 1 p.m. MT dual meet against BYU on Saturday, Jan. 12.