Swimming and Diving

Aztecs Ready for Consecutive Dual Meets vs. USD

The San Diego State swim and dive program will compete in its final two dual meets of the season this weekend when it battles the University of San Diego on consecutive days, Jan. 24 (USD) and Jan. 25 (Aztec Aquaplex).

Aztecs Ready for Consecutive Dual Meets vs. USDAztecs Ready for Consecutive Dual Meets vs. USD
Derrick Tuskan/SDSU Athletics

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State swim and dive program will compete in its final two dual meets of the season this weekend when it battles the University of San Diego on consecutive days, Jan. 24-25, at alternating venues.

The Aztecs will face the Toreros at USD Sports Center Pool on Friday, starting at 2 p.m. PT, before the two squads lock horns at Aztec Aquaplex in a rematch on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.  Admission is free for both meets.

Friday’s clash will feature 13 swimming events only, commencing with the 100 backstroke, followed by the 100 breast, 100 butterfly, 1650 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 50 freestyle and 200 individual medley. After a short recess, the competition resumes with the 200 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke and 500 freestyle, while the 200 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay will be contested following another brief rest.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s action will consist of 10 swimming events and a pair of diving competitions on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard.  The meet kicks off with the 400 medley relay and also includes the 200 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 400 individual medley, 200 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 500 freestyle, 200 breaststroke and 200 freestyle relay.

Prior to Saturday’s competition, the Aztecs will conduct a special Senior Day ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of Wilma Johansson, Valentina Lopez Arevalo,  Mai McKenna, Alex Roberts, Meredith Smithbaker, Avery Turney, Christiana Williams and Olivia Zamudio.

San Diego State is coming off a successful performance at the USD Invitational on Jan. 11, when it topped Mountain West rival Colorado State and the host Toreros. The Aztecs compiled 921.50 points across 16 events, besting the Rams (892 pts) and USD (669.50 pts) in the three-team field. The Scarlet and Black’s victorious total also included results from the preliminary rounds of the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard events at the Lancer Diving Invitational, held concurrently in Riverside, Calif.

In all, SDSU claimed nine event titles from the meet, including Moa Bergdahl’s double victories in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, while while Meredith Smithbaker (50 freestyle), Kaydence Bispo (100 freestyle), Alli Mann (100 fly) and Reka Nyiradi (200 fly) were triumphant in their respective races, joining Valentina Lopez Arevalo (1-meter) and Taylor Konopacke (3-meter), who were credited with wins from Riverside.

Not to be outdone, Lopez Arevalo swept all three individual titles in the finals of the Lancer Diving Invitational to earn Mountain West Diver of the Week honors for the third time this season.

Lopez Arevalo’s accolade gives the Aztecs seven conference weekly award winners this year, joining Alli Mann (Swimmer/Freshman, Jan. 7), Reka Nyiradi (Swimmer, Oct. 15) and Kaydence Bispo (Freshman, Oct. 15).

As of Jan. 23, Meredith Smithbaker owns the Mountain West’s fastest time thus far in the 50 free (22.42), while Abby Storm tops the conference in the 200 back (1:55.11). In addition, the Aztecs’ 200 freestyle relay team of Smithbaker, Alli Mann, Kaydence Bispo and Peebles boast the league’s top time of 1:30.08. All performances were recorded at the Iowa Hawkeye Invitational, Nov. 21-23.

Elsewhere, Mai McKenna enters the weekend ranked second in the MW in the 200 fly (1:58.46), 200 IM (1:59.73) and 400 IM (4:17.05), along with Storm in the 100 back (52.17) and Moa Bergdahl in the 100 breast (1:00.24).

SDSU has compiled a 9-0 record in dual-meet competition this season after knocking off Colorado College (116-106) and Cal State East Bay (104-89) at Aztec Aquaplex on Jan. 7.

The Aztecs have faced the Toreros on two previous occasions at home this season, capturing the annual pentathlon meet between the schools by a 33-24 count on Sept. 13 before earning a 71-43 decision in a six-event dual meet two weeks later. Including their annual pentathlons, SDSU has been victorious in 36 consecutive head-to-head meetings vs. the Toreros dating back to the 2000-01 campaign.

Following Saturday's festivities vs. USD, Aztec divers will visit the Grand Canyon State for the NAU Lumberjack Invitational, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, in Flagstaff, Arizona.

San Diego State will look to capture its fourth consecutive conference title just over two weeks later when it travels to the Lone Star State for the 2025 Mountain West Championships, Feb. 19-22, in Houston, Texas.