DENVER Six Western Athletic Conference schools head to San Antonio, Texas for the 2002 Swimming and Diving Championships, which are going to held at the Palo Alto Natatorium Feb. 27 March 2.
Fresno State will join Hawai`i, Nevada, Rice and San Jose State in hopes of taking the crown from reigning champion SMU. The Mustangs won the championship last year with a total of 917 points. Hawai`i landed second with 583.50.
Fresno State is looking for outstanding performances from three divers who have all qualified for the 1-meter dual dive. Freshman Ashleigh Raley earned a mark of 275.60 early in the season, while fellow frosh Lindsey Paulekas scored 258.375 for her qualifying mark. Sophomore Nicole Recupito qualified with a mark of 263.175. The Bulldogs hope to back their way into the top spot with Carilyn Wigginton. Wigginton has won 14 times in the backstroke this season, while registering eight, second-place and seven, third-place finishes.
Hawai`i heads into the championships with a few standout divers as well. Maggie Roberts 233.20 in a championship meet is the best score in the WAC this season. Rainbow Wahine Sarah Shepard has the top score this season in the 3-meter diving with 344.25 points. Rice looks to pick up a few points in the sprints. Owl Mandy Mularz is the only swimmer to automatically qualify for nationals in the 50m Free, owning a time of 22.70. She also has the second best time this season in the WAC in the 100m Free, behind SMUs Lisa Wanburg and just ahead of teammate Rachel Armstrong, with a time of 50.47.
SMU looks repeat their dominating performance from last season and capture another WAC Championship. The Mustangs have an athlete in the nations top-25 times in 14 of the 16 individual categories. They are led by Flavia Rigamonti who has the second best times in the nation in both the 1,000m Free and 1,650m Free. They also have the top time in 12 of the 14 WAC individual events this season.
The events begin Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. with the 200-Yard Medley Relay. Results will be posted on the WAC website at www.wacsports.com.
ScheduleWednesday, Feb. 27Finals-6:30 p.m.200-Yard Medley Relay
800-Yard Freestyle Relay
Thursday, Feb. 28Swimming Preliminaries-11:00 a.m.500-Yard Freestyle
200-Yard Individual Medley
50-Freestyle
Diving Preliminaries-1:00 p.m.1-Meter
Finals-6:30 p.m.500-Yard Freestyle
200-Yard Individual Medley
50-Yard Freestyle
1-Meter Diving
200-Yard Freestyle Relay
Friday, March 1Swimming Preliminaries-11:00 a.m.400-Yard Individual Medley
100-Yard Butterfly
200-Yard Freestyle
100-Yard Breaststroke
100-Yard Backstroke
Diving Preliminaries-1:00 p.m.3-Meter
Finals-6:30 p.m.400-Yard Individual Medley
100-Yard Butterfly
200-Yard Freestyle
100-Yard Breaststroke
100-Yard Backstroke
3-Meter Diving
400-Yard Medley Relay
Saturday, March 2Swimming Preliminaries-11:00 a.m.200-Yard Backstroke
100-Yard Freestyle
200-Yard Breaststroke
200-Yard Butterfly
1650-Yard Freestyle
Diving Preliminaries-1:00 p.m.Platform
Finals-6:30 p.m.1650-Yard Freestyle (last heat)
200-Yard Backstroke
100-Yard Freestyle
200-Yard Breaststroke
200-Yard Butterfly
Platform Diving
400-Yard Freestyle Relay