Western State took down CSU-Pueblo on Friday night.
Western State Press Release
PUEBLO, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's swimming and diving team defeated CSU-Pueblo in the first dual of the season, 144 to 74. The Mountaineers won eight of 13 events, including both relays.
The team of Samantha Martin, Ma'alaea Lawrence, Randi Yarnell and Kate Hewson kicked things off with a win in the 200 medley relay.
After that, Ma'alaea Lawrence had one of the best races of the day by winning the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:08.97, a time that should put her in the top-20 in the nation.
Other individual winners included Alex Marsolek winning the 200 IM in a time of 2:17.20, Jessica Anderson winning the diving with a score of 199.10, Akemi King winning the 100 fly in a time of 1:00.90, Ariel Fitch winning the 100 free in a time of 54.87, and Randi Yarnell winning the 100 back in a time of 59.70
The team finished off the Thunderwolves with a win in the 200 free by the team of Kate Hewson, Ariel Fitch, Akemi King and Ma'alaea Lawrence.
CSU Pueblo Press Release
PUEBLO, Colo. (October 14, 2016) – In the first meet of their 2016-17 campaign, Colorado State University-Pueblo swimming came up short in their head-to-head dual with Western State Colorado University. The Pack was outscored by the Mountaineers 136- 74.
Co-captain April McDonough (Jr., Frisco, Texas) started her season on a high note by winning both of her individual events. McDonough bested the field by over two seconds in the 1000 freestyle (11:06.68). She returned to win the 500 free by almost five seconds with a time of 5:27.27.
Competing in her first collegiate meet, freshman Phoebe Pontious (Caledonia, Mich.) wasted no time in earning her first collegiate victory. Pontious won the 50 freestyle in 25.26 seconds. In her first collegiate race, Pontious posted the second fastest 50 free time in school history. Her impressive debut swim ranks just .05 seconds behind senior Clarissa Gardella's (Baskersfield, Calif.) school record. Gardella finished fifth in the event. Pontious would return later to take second in the 100 free (56.04).
Sophomore Arianna Rohde (Anchorage, Alaska) finished second in each of her three events on the day. Rohde recorded a time of 2:17.48 in 200 yard individual medley. She came back later to post times of 1:01.04 and 1:00.38 in the 100 butterfly and 100 yard backstrokes respectively. Rohde's backstroke time stands as the fourth fastest in school history.
Jade Irick (So., Idaho Falls, Idaho) took the bronze in each of her three events. Irick claimed third place in the 200 free (2:04.57), the 100 back (1:03.83), and the 100 fly (1:02.12).
Despite the best efforts of the upstart Pack team, Western State proved to be too much. The Mountaineers won 10 of the 13 events. Entering their third year as a program, the Pack has just five upperclassmen on its roster.
With their season opener behind them, the Pack will try to break through for its first win Oct. 22 when they hit the road for the first time in 2016. CSU-Pueblo will pay a visit to Division I foe New Mexico State University in a head-to-head dual meet beginning at 11 a.m.
