ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (Nov. 3-9)
San Jose State's Heather Denman and Idaho's Paige Hunt were named the Verizon WAC Swimmer and Diver of the week, respectively, for Nov. 3-9.
Denman, a junior from Brookeville, Md. (Sherwood HS), won two individual titles and was part of the 400-freestyle relay team that defeated UC Davis on Nov. 6. Denman won the 200 butterfly in convincing fashion as she posted her best time this season (2:04.45), giving her the top time in the WAC thus far. She also claimed the 200-yard backstroke title with a time of 2:04.44, nearly besting her top time of 2:03.70, which is the best in the WAC. She capped off the meet against UC Davis as a member of the victorious 400 free relay team that recorded a WAC-best season time of 3:26.75.
Hunt, a sophomore from Mesa, Ariz. (Mesa CC), claimed two diving titles over the weekend in meets against New Mexico State and Fresno State. She won the one-meter diving event versus New Mexico State on Nov. 5 by setting a school record score of 274.90. Hunt also won the three-meter diving event versus Fresno State on Nov. 6 with a score of 243.20.
Other swimmers nominated: Shana Lim, Idaho; Dani Yoho, Fresno State; Chavisa Thaveesupsoonthorn, Nevada; Alannah Lawrence, New Mexico State
Other divers nominated: Hannah Prigge, Fresno State; Aniesa Debaji, Nevada; Carly Smith, New Mexico State; Jessica Holden, San Jose State
THIS WEEK IN WAC SWIMMING AND DIVING
Three WAC teams are in action in Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving this week. Idaho matches up against Northern Arizona in a relay meet on Nov. 11, and again in a dual meet on Nov. 13 in Moscow, Idaho. Northern Arizona will have a third meet on Nov. 12 as well against Washington State. Fresno State travels to Davis, Calif., to match up against UC Davis.
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 that up 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
Fresno State lost both of its meets over the weekend as they fell 182-118 to Idaho and 165-96 to Washington State ... sophomore Britney Vogel had a pair of victories against Idaho in the 100-yard (1:05.00) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:24.66) ... sophomore Rayanne Nguyen won the 200-yard butterfly (2:07.51), and freshman Hannah Prigge won her first collegiate diving event with a score of 239.00 in the 1-meter dive ... Dani Yoho was able to break her own school record in the 50-yard freestyle winning the event 23.54 seconds against Washington St. She then went on to best that time as she swam a 23.49 during her leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay team.
Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine
The Rainbow Wahine concluded its two-day dual diving event against Arizona State coming away with a win in the 3-meter dive ... sophomore Hannah Bocksnick won the event with a score of 319.60 while junior Daniella Nero finished in a close second with a score of 319.10 ... Nero also claimed second in the 1-meter event with a score of 279.75 ... next, Hawai'i will head to the Toshiba Classic in Long Beach, Calif., Nov. 18-20, and will also travel to the Wildcat Invitational in Tuscon, Ariz., Nov. 19-21.
Idaho Vandals
Idaho recorded two victories in as many days after defeating Fresno State 182-118 and New Mexico State 149.5-93.5 ... the Vandals claimed 13 of the 16 events vs. Fresno State including a win in the 1-meter diving event for sophomore Paige Hunt (243.20) ... Hunt continued her success against New Mexico State as she broke the Idaho school record by winning the 1-meter dive with a score of 174.90 ... freshmen Shana Lim and Megan Venlos each won twice - Lim in the 50 free and 200 back, and Venlos in the 100 and 200 free ... the Vandals are home again as they take on Northern Arizona in a relay meet Nov.11, and then again for a dual meet on Nov. 13.
Nevada Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack fell to 1-5 on the season after losing to Nebraska 166-134 on Nov. 6 in Reno, Nev. ... sophomore Mengjiao Mi once again had a stellar performance as she led the Wolf Pack with three individual first place finishes in the 200-yard (1:51.98), 100-yard (51.82) and 500-yard (5:02.67) freestyle races ... divers Grace Huang and Aniesa Debaji each snagged victories with Huang finishing first in the 3-meter with a score of 326.93 and Debaji taking the 1-meter with a score of 284.03 ... Nevada next faces Idaho in Reno, Nev. on Dec. 4.
New Mexico State Aggies
The Aggies fell to Washington State 143.5-118.5 in their first road meet of the season on Nov. 5 ... senior Alannah Lawrence collected a pair of wins in the 100 and 200 breastroke ... sophomore Beth Cate also nabbed a pair of victories in the 200 fly and 500 freestyle ... New Mexico State concluded its two-meet road trip with a 149.5-93.5 loss to WAC opponent Idaho ... junior Carly Smith won the 3-meter diving event with a score of 277.35, and junior Maria Spies took first in the 200 breastroke (2:23.45) ... next up for the Aggies will be the Arizona Diving Invitational on Nov. 19-21 in Tucson, Ariz.
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 went into Davis, Calif. and came away with a 156-144 victory over UC Davis on Nov. 6 ... Heather Denman and Rudie Guerrero each won two individual titles, while Amy Friedhoff won the 1000 freestyle ... Denman won the 200 butterfly (2:04.45) and the 200 backstroke (2:04.44), and Guerrero won the 100 backstroke (56.65) and the 100 butterfly (57.32) ... divers Jessica Holden and Amy Kilby swept the diving events with Holden claiming the 1-meter (248.25) and Kilby winning the 3-meter (241.35) ... the Spartans next travel to Long Beach, Calif., for the Nike Cup on Nov. 18-20.
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