San Jose State Women Win Against Fresno State on Senior Day

The San Jose State University women’s swimming and diving program celebrated Senior Day and won 15 of 16 events in defeating Western Athletic Conference foe Fresno State, 177-103, in a dual meet at The Aquatics Center on Saturday, February 7.

San Jose State improved to 16-1 in dual meets with a 16th consecutive victory in the regular-season finale for both sides. The Spartans did not drop a dual since a season-opening loss at No. Stanford in October, and end the year with the best overall dual record in program history. In doing so, they also went undefeated against league opposition in a program first, compiling a perfect 8-0 ledger against WAC squads. Fresno State moved to 0-8 in its first season back as a women’s swimming and diving program since being cut following the 2003-04 campaign. The Spartans had already topped the Bulldogs twice this season in a pair of neutral-site meetings.

The meet began with the three-meter diving event following special introductions of fourth-year Spartan seniors Beste Erener, Lauren Mar, Katey Nelson and Tarolyn Robertson. The quartet each earned multiple all-conference honors, as well as past academic all-conference distinction.

In that three-meter event, freshman Jessica Holden (244.65) and sophomore Jo Thibodaux (241.13) produced a 1-2 finish for the Spartans for the early 13-6 advantage. Holden, out of Fair Oaks, Calif., later completed her second collegiate dual sweep with a victory on the one-meter springboard (221.48). Thibodaux was third with a score of 192.60 points.

Fourth-year Spartan head coach Sage Hopkins continued his tradition of a senior relay to kick off the swimming portion of the Senior Day meet, with the San Jose State foursome rewarding him with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory in the 200 medley relay. Nelson’s season-best lead 50-yard backstroke leg of 29.15 was a season best, but after Erener’s 50 yards of breaststroke (32.13), and tri-captain Robertson’s 50 of butterfly (26.58), the Spartans trailed the Fresno State ‘A’ by over one and a half seconds, at 1:27.86 to 1:26.16. Mar hit the water and seemingly had the Bulldogs’ Dede Torres at the 25-yard turn, ultimately winning it for the Spartans, 1:51.02-1:51.40.

Mar added individual wins in the 100 back (57.58) and 50 free (24.44), while Erener easily took the 200 fly (2:11.29) as the only Spartan entrant, ahead of the first break. The duo completed perfect afternoons as members of the first-place 200 free relay to conclude the meet, with Erener, Mar and Nelson leading things off, and sophomore tri-captain Ashley Ladd holding off the opposition by over two seconds in 1:41.97. The race marked rare sprint freestyle appearances for Erener and Nelson, with Erener timing an opening 50-yard split of 26.50.

In addition to Holden and Mar, two other Spartans posted a pair of individual event victories, with Amy Friedhoff in the 200 free (1:56.24) and 500 free (5:12.28), and sophomore tri-captain Kirsten Trammell in the 100 breast (1:07.15) and 200 IM (2:09.25). Other San Jose State wins came via Julia Koch in the 1000 free (10:46.63), Daphne Yeung in the 100 free (53.65), Caitlin Macky as the only Spartan entrant in the 200 breast (2:25.24), and Hannah Tringham in the 100 fly in a lifetime-best 59.12. Yeung’s mark was just .28 seconds off her best.

Individually, Nelson was second in the 200 back (2:07.69) and third in the 100 back (1:01.29). Junior San Jose native Erin Garcia raced a lifetime-best 1:07.70 for second-place in the 100 breast, with Yeung going a collegiate-best 1:09.97 for fourth. Macky went 1:03.07 over 100 yards in her first collegiate backstroke race. Kristin Yamaguchi, a freshman walk-on, timed 11:01.98 for second-place in her first collegiate 1000 freestyle race. Fellow freshman Megan Mills sprinted 26.08 for second-place in her first collegiate appearance in the 50 free. In her first college 200-yard individual medley race, Rudie Guerrero had the third-fastest time of 2:13.26.

San Jose State had a 1-2-3-4 sweep in the 100 back and 100 free, and a 1-2-3 performance in the 100 fly.

Heidi Gjoen, a freshman from Oslo, Norway, was the individual highlight for Fresno State. She was the lone Bulldog first-place finisher, timing 2:05.34 in the 200 back, while adding a runner-up efforts in the 200 free (1:57.22) and 200 IM (2:11.92).

San Jose State and Fresno State now have 17 days remaining to prepare for the 2009 WAC Championship in San Antonio, Texas, February 25-28. The Spartans will travel to Texas on Monday, February 23, and aim at minimum for the first top-three finish in program history.

Gjoen Blasts Through Final Meet
Freshman swimmer Heidi Gjoen (Oslo, Norway) gave an explosive performance Saturday afternoon against rival San Jose State to end the season with multiple event wins and a number of best times to her name.
 
“Heidi did tremendously,” said head coach Jeanne Fleck.  “Being a freshman on a reinstated team and earning event wins and best times is big.  She has swum well all year long.”
 
A proven backstroker, Gjoen topped the Spartans in the 200 backstroke and claimed a victory with a best time of 2:05.34.  She went on to top her time in the 200 IM and finished 2:11.09 and ended the 200 freestyle event in second.
 
The ‘Dogs followed in suit, competing to a number of best times in both individual and relay events.  Junior Kelli Sargent (Modesto, Calif.) reached a high time in the 1000 freestyle and finished third in the 40-lap distance event she has progressed in meet to meet.  Along with Sargent was freshman Dede Torres (Fresno, Calif.), who earned a lifetime best in the 100 backstroke and placed second in the 500 freestyle event with a best time.
 
Other best times earned on Saturday were by freshman Jordan Morillo (Lindsay, Calif.), who finished third in the 100 breaststroke and second in the 100 butterfly.  Sophomore Cindy Engle (Edwards, Colo.), a flier, pulled off a best time in the 200 butterfly along with a second place finish.
 
“We swam very well today,” said Fleck.  “I was really happy and we swam better than I expected. These girls did really awesome.”
 
Junior diver Kendra Weeks (Folsom, Calif.) shined in the diving well with remarkable scores and finishes.  Weeks gave best-mark dives on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards and placed second on the 1-meter with a score of 220.95.  She earned a 206.00 on the 3-meter.
 
Two of Fresno State’s seniors swam their last meet of the regular season Saturday afternoon. Megan Wood (Fresno, Calif.) and Rebecca Sussman (Walnut Creek, Calif.) will compete in the WAC Championships for their first and last conference championship meet of their division I careers.  Fleck shared her thoughts on both of her graduating seniors.
 
“I am so proud to have Megan on this team as she has been such a great leader in and out of the pool,” said Fleck.   “She has been a wonderful start to the Fresno State swimming and diving program.”

Graduating along with Wood from the program in May is Sussman.

“Suss has been such a great addition to our program for her leadership skills as well as her great sense of humor,” said Fleck.

Now, the countdown is on to the WAC Championship.  Fresno State’s divers will compete one last time in a Valentine’s Day dive meet in Fresno at Sunnyside High School on Feb. 14 at noon against the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific University.  Swimmers will continue intense training and preparation for the conference competition, which is to be held at the Palo Alto Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas Feb. 25-28.