Sept. 25, 2008
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State swimming and diving will continue its preparations for the 2008-09 campaign with its second Red and Black meet on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Aztec Aquaplex. The 17-event meet is set to get underway at noon.
Second-year head coach Mike Shrader returns 10 letterwinners from last year's squad, while welcoming 15 newcomers to The Mesa. The swimmers will be led by tri-captains Jessica Morrill (breaststroke), Kyla Power (freestyle) and Noelle Holland (butterfly).
The Aztecs held their first intrasquad competition on Sept. 12, as the red team topped the black squad, 174-161, in a 15-event meet. Freshman Jeanette Engzell led the way with four first-place finishes (50 breast, 100 breast, 200 breast and 200 individual medley), while classmate Elisabeth Krueger claimed top honors in the 50 free, 200 free and 200 fly. Shaida Solimani also had a strong meet, finishing ahead of the pack in the 100 and 200 backstroke. Ashley Flynn (1000 free), Allison Hall (100 fly) and Power (500 free) rounded out the day's winners.
Led by two-time NCAA Zone E Regional qualifiers Caitlin Atkinson and Megan Flanagan, the San Diego State divers are primed to have another strong season. Atkinson, who was SDSU's top finisher on the 1-meter board in nine dual meets last year, currently holds the school record with a score of 280.88. Flanagan, meanwhile, tops the charts in the 3-meter event with her mark of 300.83.
Adding to the strength and experience of the diving squad will be junior Amy Freeberg, who became the first Aztec diver to earn all-MWC honors after placing fifth in the platform event at the 2008 conference championships. Also joining the team this season are transfers Alex Barstad and Dominique Campos.
In 2007-08, the Scarlet and Black posted its best dual-meet record since the 2001-02 season with an 8-4 mark. SDSU was undefeated (3-0) in its first year of competition at the Aztec Aquaplex, picking up home victories over TCU, Air Force and USD.
San Diego State will kick off the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 11, when it welcomes MWC foe Utah to the Aztec Aquaplex. The dual meet is slated for a 3 p.m. PT start.