Fledgling Boise State Progam Makes Waves at WAC Shootout

The Boise State swimming and diving team continued its stellar season opening meet with a clean sweep of victories on day two of the WAC Shootout. The Broncos beat New Mexico State (141-99), Fresno State (165-77) and UC Davis (180-56) to go 5-0-1 on the weekend.
 
The relay teams continued to shine on Saturday as the 400 medley relay began the day with an overall victory. Morgan McLain, Emily Irvin, Amber Boucher and Stephanie North recorded a time of 3:54.71 to earn the title. The day ended with the 400 free relay team of Stevie Hughey, Chelsea Lopus, Jenny Nowatzke and Boucher earning a second place overall finish and beating out all three opponents for the day.
 
Freshman Jenn Cahill also continued her early season dominance with a pair of overall victories in the 1000 and 500 free events. Cahill recorded times of 10:25.95 and 5:05.83, respectively, to take the titles.
 
Boucher took the only other overall title for the Broncos in the 50 free. Her time of 24.02 gave her the top finish in the event and some big points. Christine Raininger pulled in a second place overall finish, but beat out competitors from all three opposing programs to earn first place points across the board in the 400 IM with a 4:35.75. Lopus also earned first place points in the 200 fly with a time of 2:06.94. She placed fifth overall in the event.
 
North and Lopus finished third and fourth overall in the 200 free, beating out both Fresno State and New Mexico State for the two top spots. North touched the wall at 1:53.96 while Lopus finished right behind her at 1:54.63. North also earned fist place points over UC Davis and Fresno State in the 100 free with a time of 52.60.
 
McLain and Irvin were the top finishers for the Broncos in the 200 back and 200 breast, respectively. McLain swam a 2:06.86 in the 200 back to earn first place points over New Mexico State and UC Davis. Irvin’s time of 2:23.76 earned first place points over Fresno State and UC Davis.
 
Erin Lionberger once again led the Broncos in the diving events. She finished in second place against both New Mexico State and Fresno State in the 1-meter and 3-meter events.
 
The Broncos hope to ride the success of their best start in school history all the way into Boise next weekend when they have their home-opener against Washington State. The Cougars and Broncos will face off at 1 p.m. at the West YMCA on Sat., Oct. 17.




The UC Davis women’s swimming and diving team opened the 2009 season at the WAC Shootout in San Jose.  Despite finishing 0-3 in the meet, the Aggies had eight individual top-10 finishes, including three finishes in the top-five, and saw a strong showing from several newcomers.

“It was a good meet to go to,” said head coach Barbara Jahn.  “It was a nice clean format so it was pleasant to see just one swimmer at a time because we were always only in one lane.  We could focus on just that one person.  The freshmen did a great job so overall it was a good first meet and a very happy start.”

The Aggies started the meet with a sixth-place finish in the 400 medley relay with an overall time of 4:01.88 by the “A” squad of Linda Hermann, Morgan Lee, Jenah Dawson and Kayleigh Foley.  The “B” relay team of Ashley Chandler, Alyssa Britt, Jen Cadmus and Lisa Bender finished 11th with a time of 4:05.34, with Chandler clocking a lifetime best in the 100 backstroke leg of the relay.

Freshman Grace Benefield earned the Aggies’ first top-10 individual finish of the day.  She placed seventh in the 1000 free with a time of 10:45.73.  Senior Kathryn Jovino placed 12th overall in the event with a time of 11:21.04.

In the 200 free, Hermann finished second overall, clocking in at 1:53.74, and freshman Bridget Bugbee was seventh with a time of 1:56.19.  Buffy Ajimura and Samantha Capozzo were 18th and 23rd respectively in the event.

Chandler had another strong showing later as she finished third overall in the 50 free with a time of 24.50.  Kayleigh Foley was 14th (25.04) and Jen Cadmus and Lisa Bender were 18th and 19th. 

Katelyn Griffin was the Aggies’ top finisher in the 400 IM, finishing 17th with a time of 4:48.01.  Julie Peri followed close behind with a 19th-place finish and Jodi Hanson and Alyssa Britt were 21st and 23rd, respectively.

In the 200 fly, Jenah Dawson led the Aggies with a time of 2:11.79 to finish 13th overall.  Ajimura placed 22nd.

Chandler finished in the top-10 individually for the second time when she placed ninth in the 100 free with a time of 54.32.  Samantha Capozzo and Kayleigh Foley had back-to-back finishes and Morgan Lee was 23rd overall with a time of 56.52. 

Hermann had her second top-10 finish of the day in the 200 back where she was sixth overall with a time of 2:07.56.  Griffin’s time of 2:12.74 was good enough for 16th and freshman Victoria Pichay made her debut with a time of 2:15.61 to place 20th.

Bugbee was second overall in the 500 free with a time of 5:07.85.  Benefield continued her strong showing by finishing fifth with a time of 5:11.07.  Alex Wells was 19th for the Aggies in the event and recorded a time of 5:34.90.

Morgan Lee was UC Davis’ top finisher in the 200 breast and was 11th overall in a time of 2:29.12.  Britt was 14th and Julie Peri 17th, while Jodi Hanson finished 18th with a time of 2:35.50.

The 400 free relay “A” squad of Griffin, Bugbee, Capozzo and Ajimura finished the day with an eighth-place finish and a time of 3:40.32.  The “B” squad of Lisa Bender, Pichay, Jovino and Dawson were 11th and recorded a time of 3:44.90.

UC Davis will host the first dual meet of the season Friday, Oct. 16 when Nevada visits Schaal Aquatic Center for a 1:00 p.m. start.

WAC Shootout (Final Day)
San Jose State Aquatics Center - Oct. 10, 2009

Scores
Nevada 127.50, UC Davis 108.50
San Jose State 165.00, UC Davis 64.00
Boise State 180.00, UC Davis 56.00

Individual (Top finisher and UC Davis only)
400 Medley Relay: 1. Boise State “A” (Morgan McLain, Emily Irvin, Amber Boucher, Stephanie North), 3:54.71...6. UC Davis “A” (Linda Hermann, Morgan Lee, Jenah Dawson, Kayleigh Foley), 4:01.88; 11. UC Davis “B” (Ashley Chandler, Alyssa Britt, Jen Cadmus, Lisa Bender), 4:05.34.

1000 Freestyle: 1. Jennifer Cahill, Boise State, 10:25.95...7. Grace Benefield, 10:45.73; 12. Kathryn Jovino, 11:21.04.

200 Freestyle: 1. Emma Berry, Hawaii, 1:53.73; 2. Linda Hermann, 1:53.74; 7. Bridget Bugbee, 1:56.19; 18. Buffy Ajimura, 1:58.92; 23. Samantha Capozzo, 2:01.29.

50 Freestyle: 1. Amber Boucher, Boise State, 24.02...3. Ashley Chandler, 24.50; 14. Kayleigh Foley, 25.04; 18. Jen Cadmus, 25.37; 19. Lisa Bender, 25.44.

400 IM: 1. Julia Craddock, San Jose State, 4:34.58...17. Katelyn Griffin, 4:48.01; 19. Julie Peri, 4:50.52; 21. Jodi Hanson, 4:51.49; 23. Alyssa Britt, 4:55.45.

200 Butterfly: 1. Heather Denman, San Jose State, 2:03.89...13. Jenah Dawson, 2:11.79; 22. Buffy Ajimura, 2:21.53.

100 Freestyle: 1. Kelly Conrad, New Mexico State, 52.26...9. Ashley Chandler, 54.32; 20. Samantha Capozzo, 55.49; 21. Kayleigh Foley, 55.60; 23. Morgan Lee, 56.52.

200 Backstroke: 1. Heather Denman, San Jose State, 2:05.02...6. Linda Hermann, 2:07.56; 16. Katelyn Griffin, 2:12.74; 20. Victoria Pichay, 2:15.61; 23. Jodi Hanson, 2:22.20.

500 Freestyle: 1. Jennifer Cahill, Boise State, 5:05.83; 2. Bridget Bugbee, 5:07.85; 5. Grace Benefield, 5:11.07; 19. Alex Wells, 5:34.90.

200 Breaststroke: 1. Maria Spies, New Mexico State, 2:19.16...11. Morgan Lee, 2:29.12; 14. Alyssa Britt, 2:30.98; 17. Julie Peri, 2:33.53; 18. Jodi Hanson, 2:35.50.

400 Freestyle Relay: 1. San Jose State (Daphne Yeung, Marisa DeWames, Meghan McCurley, Kiley Foster), 3:32.58...8. UC Davis “A” (Katelyn Griffin, Bridget Bugbee, Samantha Capozzo, Buffy Ajimura), 3:40.32; 11. UC Davis “B” (Lisa Bender, Victoria Pichay, Kathryn Jovino, Jenah Dawson), 3:44.90.