Boise State swimming and diving jumped out to an early lead Friday night at the Boise West YMCA in the first session of a two-day dual against Idaho. After five events, the Broncos lead the Vandals, 81-21.
The dual will resume Saturday morning beginning at 10:15 a.m.
“[Tonight’s performance] gives the girls confidence. I think a lot of them were worried about how tired they were coming in, with training, but it was great to see seniors like Blake and Sam step up and swim really well,” sad Boise State head coach Jerermy Kipp, who made his debut at the Bronco helm Friday night. “We had a few really good swims. They’re a little rusty from competition, so it’s always good to get off to a lead but it’s what you do with that lead that matters.
“I told Brittany and Sam that we’re going to be riding them a lot this season, putting a lot of luggage on their back. They’re going to have to get used to swimming a lot of events and carrying the team, but I think a lot of our distance swimmers like Felicity, Emma and Blake swam really well. The divers had a good test of their will and character. That was a good team effort,” Kipp added.
Boise State’s divers got the evening off to a fine start as Kacee Olson captured the 1-meter event with a score of 257.05, with teammate Jordan Marthens taking second (253.65). Idaho claimed third and fourth, as Nikki Imanaka (248.95) and Indiya Williams (246.30) earned points for the Vandals.
The Broncos followed up the diving performance by going 1-2-3 in the 100 fly. Defending Mountain West champion Brittany Aoyama led the pack with a winning time of 55.06, followed by Sam Wicks (56.61) and Katelyn Martin (57.33). Maryann Kok took fourth for Idaho in 58.14.
Sophomore Emma Chard picked up her first win of the season in the next event, the 500 free, touching the pad in 4:54.88. Boise State grabbed the top four spots in the event as Chard was followed by Felicity Cann (4:57.21), Blake Balogh (4:59.37) and Amelia Draney (5:03.98). It was the same story in the 50 free, as Aoyama (23.61) picked up her second win of the night as the Broncos claimed the top six spots. Martin (23.94), Allyson Kleinsorgen (24.01), Cody Evans (24.06), Monica Bottelberghe (24.16) and Abbey Sorensen (24.16) rounded out the top six.
Wicks captured her first win of the season, topping the 200 IM field in 2:06.02, with freshman Laura Williams (2:08.13) and sophomore Emily Mathis (2:08.46) taking second and third, respectively.
In the final event of the evening, the 400 medley relay, the Bronco quartet of Wicks, Williams, Aoyama and Martin took first in 3:48.66, followed by Idaho’s quartet of Victoria Papke, Cara Jernigan, Emily Kliewer and Kok in 3:56.12.
