ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (Sept 29-Oct. 5)
Boise State's Amber Boucher and San Jose State's Jessica Holden were named the Verizon WAC Swimmer and Diver of the week, respectively, for Oct. 6-12.
Boucher, a junior from Keizer, Ore. (McNary HS), won two individual titles and was a member of six winning relay teams over a two-day span in meets against Rice on Oct. 8-9. She recorded a time of 56.33 in the 100-yard butterfly, which is the top time in the WAC thus far and is also good enough for ninth on the all-time top-10 list at Boise State. Her other individual title was in the 200-yard freestyle, which she won by two seconds over the next closest competitor. She also helped claim titles in the 400-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay, setting the seventh-fastest time in school history at 1:46.21. Boucher was also part of the winning 300-yard butterfly relay team, 150-yard butterfly relay team, 800-yard freestyle relay team, which set the fifth-best time at Boise State, and 200-yard freestyle relay team, who set the No. 8 all-time mark in school history.
Holden, a sophomore from Fair Oaks, Calif. (Roseville HS), claimed the 1-meter diving title in a double dual meet with UC Santa Cruz and Cal State East Bay on Oct. 8. Her score of 290.7 for six dives set a San Jose State school record and qualified her for the 2011 NCAA Zone Championships.
Other swimmers nominated: Shana Lim, Idaho; Heather Denman, San Jose State
Other divers nominated: Ciera Cortney, Boise State
This Week in WAC Swimming
Four schools hit the pool in Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving this week. Nevada and San Jose State both travel to Stanford, Calif., for the Stanford/SJSU Invite. Fresno State will participate in the UOP Invite located in Stockton, Calif. And, Hawai'i hosts Seattle at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
TEAM NOTES
Boise State Broncos
The Broncos come into this season after having won their first ever WAC championship in swimming and diving ... in only its fifth year of existence, the team looks to repeat as champions in 2010-11 ... opening weekend for the broncos was Oct. 8-9, as they competed and won 298-176 against Rice ... the Broncos won 10 of the 12 swimming events, and freshman diver Ciera Cortney picked up her second victory in as many days, scoring 228.9 points ... the Broncos return to the pool Oct. 22-23, for dual meets against North Texas and host New Mexico State.
Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno State enters its third year as a program since returning after a five year absence, coming into the 2010-11 season ... the Bulldogs finished eighth last season at the WAC championships after a strong push on the final day ... the Bulldogs will open their season at the UOP on Oct. 15-16, in Stockton, Calif.
Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine
The Rainbow Wahine finished in sixth place at the 2009-10 WAC championship ... Hawai'i junior Stephanie De Lima was named the WAC Diver of the Year; the eighth time in the last nine seasons Hawai'i has won the award ... Hawai'i's diving coach Mike Brown also won Diving Coach of the Year for the fifth year in a row ... Hawai'i faces its first competition of the season when it hosts Seattle Oct. 15-16.
Idaho Vandals
Idaho enters the season after a ninth place finish at the WAC Championships last year ... Idaho is still relatively young and returns three seniors for the 2010-11 season ... the Vandals' season got under way at the WSU Relays on Oct. 8-9, where they finished second ... the team of Kelsie Saxe, Samantha Bettis and Calleagh Brown captured the 300 butterfly event for Idaho ... next up for Idaho is the Debbie Pipher Invite on Oct. 22-23 in Pullman, Wash.
Nevada Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack saw their three-year run as WAC champions come to an end last season as they finished fourth at the 2010 meet ... Nevada did produce the WAC Freshman of the Year in Mengjiao Mi ... Nevada opened the 2010-11 season with a 170-125 loss to No. 5 California ... sophomore Mengjiao Mi led the Wolf Pack with three individual first place finishes in the 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle races ... the Wolf Pack's next meet will be the Stanford/SJSU Invite in Stanford, Calif. on Oct. 15-16.
New Mexico State Aggies
The New Mexico State swimming and diving team is coming off its best finish in school history, as it took second place at the 2009-10 WAC championship ... head coach Rick Pratt was named WAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season ... the Aggies open the 2010-11 season on Oct. 22 when they host North Texas.
San Jose State Spartans
The Spartans are coming off a third-place finish at the 2009-10 WAC championship, which was their best finish in program history ... San Jose State faced Stanford in its first competition of the season, losing 183-100 on Oct. 1 ... junior Heather Denman won the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.75, while sophomore Julia Craddock won the 200 individual medley ... the Spartans also competed at a dual meet against UC Santa Cruz and Cal State East Bay on Oct. 8-9, coming away with victories of 176-91 and 182-67 respectfully ... diver Jessica Holden set a school record, scoring 290.7 for six dives.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO SAN ANTONIO – The 2011 edition of the WAC Championship returns to Palo Alto Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas. Boise State will look to defend its 2010 title in hopes of repeating as WAC champions. The championship will be held Feb. 23-26, 2011.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP:
Finals: March 17-19, 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
The Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center
Host: Texas