Washington State swim defeated the University of Utah 149-145 on Saturday in Salt Lake City completing their final dual meet of the season and third conference win.
The Cougars overcame a 32-point hole, after the diving events, which WSU does not compete in.
“It was a good meet for us today. We swam tough all day and finished strong,” WSU Head Coach Tom Jager said. “We are proud of our season so far and excited about laying all on the line at conference. Go Cougs!”
The meet opened with the a second place finish in the 200 medley relay, the team of junior Haley Rose Love, senior Frederikke Hall, sophomore Anna Brolin, and sophomore Hannah Bruggman finished with a time of 1:43.75.
Junior Kendra Griffin opened up the individual meets with a win in the 1000 free, touching the wall first at 10:30.11.
Junior Addisynn Bursch picked up two wins for the Cougars. In the 200 freestyle she touched the wall at 1:52.07. In the 200 IM she clocked the fastest time of 2:04.35.
Freshman Jasmine Margetts also contributed two wins to the Cougars score with wins in the backstroke events. In the 100, she finished at 56.26 and in the 200, she clocked a time of 2:01.11.
After losing to a sweep in the 100 breast, junior Elise Locke brought the Cougars momentum back with a win in the 200 butterfly, clocking a time of 2:03.58.
WSU swept the 50 freestyle. Love, finished first with a time of 23.93. She was followed by teammate Hailey Johnson who placed second at 24:01, and Bruggman who finished third at 24.02.
The Cougars also swept the 500 freestyle. Sophomore Rachel Thompson earned the best time of 5:06.51, Griffin placed second at 5:08.24, and Locke finished third clocking a time of 5:08.97.
Brolin contributed nine more points to the score with a win in the 100 fly, touching the wall first at 56.03.
The close meet came down the last event, the 400 freestyle relay. The Cougars took second and third place, to put them over the Utes. The team of Thompson, Anna Rosen, Penny Nichols, and Ciera Kelly finished second with a time of 3:31.41. For third place, the team of Johnson, Talisa Wibmer, Michelle Berry, and Linnea Lindberg finished at 3:32.92.
WSU returns to the pool to compete in the Pac-12 Championships Feb.24-27 in Federal Way, Wash.
Utah
The University of Utah women’s swimming and diving team put up a tough fight today against Washington State. The Utes won seven events on Senior Day but it was the Cougars who came out on top, 149-145.
“This was a very competitive dual meet, start to finish,” said Utah head coach Joe Dykstra. “I saw us win a couple of really close relays and individual races so I knew it was going to be close and competitive all the way through. Unfortunately, we just came on the short end of too many races. I told our team 'we swam okay, but you have to want to finish the race through that last turn.' We were not sharp or aggressive enough today.”
The relay team of Megan Kawaguchi, Genevieve Robertson, Jenna Marsh and Gillian St. John started positively for the Utes, taking first in the 200 medley by touching in at 1:43.72. St. John would later tie teammate Dorien Butter for first place in the 100 free (52.01). Butter also took third in the 200 free (1:52.98).
Other wins for the Utes included Robertson in the 200 breast (2:17.35) and Stina Colleou in the 100 breast (1:04.43). Following Colleou in second and third respectively, were Francis (1:04.67) and Robertson (1:04.93).
In diving, Lauren Hall took first in both the one-meter (262.42) and the three-meter event (272.02).
Kat Wickham just missed the top spot in the 1,000 free touching in at 10:38.53. Meanwhile, Kawaguchi took second in the 100 back (56.68) while Jordan Anderson took third in the 200 fly (2:06.95).
In the 100 fly, Marsh was second with a time of 56.23. Francis also earned a runner-up spot in the 200 IM with a time of 2:05.16.
Utah closed the meet on a positive note as Rhianna Williams, St. John, Darby Wayner and Butter took first in the 400 free with a relay time of 3:28.17.
This was the women’s last meet of the regular season. The Pac-12 Championships will be held in Federal Way, Wash., from Feb.24-27.
The men’s team will be hosting USC next Saturday, Feb. 20 for its Senior Day at Ute Natatorium.
