ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (Oct. 20-26)
Boise State's Stephanie North and New Mexico State's Carly Smith were named the Verizon WAC Swimmer and Diver of the week, respectively, for Oct. 20-26.
North, a junior from Klamath Falls, Ore. (Henley HS), won four individual titles and was a member of two winning relay teams over a two-day span in dual meets against New Mexico State and North Texas on Oct. 22-23. She began the weekend by recording a season-best time of 24.01 in the 50-yard freestyle. She won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.31, and wrapped up the first day of competition by anchoring the Broncos' 200-yard freestyle relay team, which recorded the eighth-fastest time in school history at 1:37.03. On the second day of competition, North anchored the 200-yard medley relay team to a first-place victory, recording a time of 1:46.54, good enough for 10th-best in school history. She also claimed victory in the 100-yard freestyle for the second time in as many days, as well as the 200-yard freestyle, recording an altitude adjusted time of 1:55.01.
Smith, a junior from Midland, Texas (Midland College/Arizona), recorded three diving victories in her first meet as an Aggie. She swept the one-meter and three-meter diving events on the first day of competition in a double dual meet with Boise State and North Texas, and also claimed the three-meter diving event on the second day of competition. Her score of 242.65 gave her the 1-meter diving win on the first day, while scores of 246.50 and 263.60 claimed victory in each 3-meter diving events. Smith also claimed the runner-up spot in the one-meter on the second day of competition, scoring 229.15 points.
Other swimmers nominated: Brooke Fuller, Fresno State; Shana Lim, Idaho; and Tricia Kiss, New Mexico State.
Other divers nominated: Ciera Cortney, Boise State; and Hannah Prigge, Fresno State.
THIS WEEK IN WAC SWIMMING AND DIVING
Three schools are in action in Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving this week. Idaho travels to Los Angeles, Calif., for dual meets against UCLA and San Diego. Idaho also matches up with USC on Saturday. Fresno State stays home for a battle against Nevada in Clovis, Calif. Nevada also has a meet on Friday with Pacific University in Stockton, Calif.
TEAM NOTES
Boise State Broncos
The Broncos (6-0) defeated North Texas and New Mexico State in dual meets on Oct. 22-23 in Las Cruces, N.M. ... Boise State defeated NMSU 140.5-102.5 on the first day of competition and followed up that with a 140-103 victory on the second day ... junior Stephanie North was the standout for the Broncos as she claimed four individual titles (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle (twice) and 200 freestyle) and was on two winning relay teams (200 freestyle and 200 medley) ... Boise also defeated North Texas by scores of 168-75 and 177-66 ... Boise State's divers compete at the Wildcat Diving Invitational on Nov. 19-21, while the swimmers take on Northern Arizona on Nov. 20.
Fresno State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs downed Fresno Pacific 147 - 82 in Clovis, Calif. on Oct. 23 ... Fresno State was led by freshman Brooke Fuller, who recorded lifetime-best times in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle ... Fuller was also part of the victorious 200-yard freestyle relay team ... the win marked the fourth victory for the Bulldogs' program since it was reinstated in 2008 ... Fresno State will be back in the pool Oct. 30 in Clovis, Calif., where it will face Nevada.
Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine
The Rainbow Wahine defeated Seattle University 146-86 and 177-110 at home on Oct. 15-16 ... Melissa Myers, Maura Barrett, Alyssa Foo and Maddie Takaki all won two individual events each ... Myers took the 1,000 freestyle (10:32.79) and the 500 freestyle (5:06.83), Barrett won the 200 freestyle (1:52.52) and the 100 freestyle (52.98), Foo won the 100 backstroke (1:00.16) and the 200 backstroke (2:07.44), and Takaki won in the 200 butterfly (2:09.06) and the 100 butterfly (58.37) ... UH next hosts Arizona State on Nov. 5-6.
Idaho Vandals
The Vandals had a nice performance at the Debbie Pipher Memorial Invitational at Washington State University on Oct. 22-23 ... on the first day of competition, freshman Shana Lim set a school record in the backstroke with a time of 55.36 seconds, which was more than half a second faster than the Idaho record and was just a tick away from the pool mark of 55.30 ... in the team scoring, the Washington State Crimson team had 245 points to the Idaho Black team's 200, while the WSU Gray team scored 186 points to Idaho Gold's 122 ... Idaho will next compete against UCLA and San Diego on Oct. 29 with USC to follow on Oct. 30 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Nevada Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack fell to 0-2 after a 99-68 loss to San Jose State in Stanford, Calif., on Oct. 15-16 ... top ranked Stanford and No. 5 Cal also competed in Saturday's meet, however, the Wolf Pack and the Spartans scored this meet as a dual ... sophomore Chavisa Thaveesupsoonthorn led Nevada by claiming first in the 200-yard IM (2:08.64) and taking third place in the 100-yard backstroke (59.98) ... the Wolf Pack return to competition on Oct. 29 against Pacific in Stockton, Calif.
New Mexico State Aggies
New Mexico State faced Boise State and North Texas in dual meets on Oct. 22-23 in Las Cruces, N.M. ... on the first day of competition, the Aggies defeated the Mean Green, 168-75, but fell to the Broncos, 140.5-102.5 ... the Aggies defeated North Texas, 160-83, but fell to Boise State, 140-103 on the second day of competition ... in her Aggie debut, freshman Tricia Kiss won the 200 back and 200 individual medley ... junior Carly Smith swept the diving events in her first appearance as an Aggie as well ... next up for NM State will be a meet against Washington State on Nov. 5 in Pullman, Wash.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Northern Arizona is coming off a 2010 season in which it finished fifth at the WAC championships ... the Lumberjack women return a very experienced team as nine seniors are back in the mix for the 2011 campaign ... head coach Andy Johns also returns for his 15th season with the Lumberjacks after guiding a team that earned 17 All-WAC selections, 13 WAC All-Academic awards, and won six medals, including two for gold, last season ... the Lumberjacks open their regular season at the Vandal Relays on Nov. 11.
San Jose State Spartans
The Spartans finished third at the George Haines Invitational and won in dual scoring against Nevada, 99-68 on Oct. 15-16 ... Darcie Anderson was the Spartans' top swimmer as she finished second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.77, and was part of the 200 medley relay team and the 200 freestyle relay that each finished third ... San Jose State next competes in a non-conference meet at UC Davis on Nov. 6.
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