ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (Oct. 20-26)
Idaho's Shana Lim and Nevada's Grace Huang were named the Verizon WAC Swimmer and Diver of the week, respectively, for Oct. 27-Nov. 2.
Lim, a freshman from Singapore, won the 100-yard backstroke, recording a NCAA provisional time of 55.51, at a double dual meet against UCLA and UC San Diego on Oct. 29. Lim's time, which was nearly four seconds faster than the second-place finisher, is the best in the WAC this fall. She also finished second in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.94, which is good enough for second in the WAC, and is only .04 seconds off the best time in the WAC this season. Lim was also part of the runner-up 400 free relay team that posted a time of 3:31.63.
Huang, a freshman from Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Jhong Jheng HS), helped the Wolf Pack claim their first dual meet win of the season as she took first-place in the 1-meter and second-place in the 3-meter diving events in a meet against WAC rival Fresno State on Oct 30. Huang claimed the 1-meter title with a score of 274.27, while her score of 279.00 in the three meter was just behind the 287.62 her teammate Aniesa Debaji put up for first-place. Huang's success has continued to carry over since she took top honors in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events against No. 5 Cal in Nevada's first meet of the season.
Other swimmers nominated: Dani Yoho, Fresno State; Mengjiao Mi, Nevada
THIS WEEK IN WAC SWIMMING AND DIVING
Four schools are in action in Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving this week. Fresno State and New Mexico State each head to Moscow, Idaho, to take on the Vandals on Friday and Saturday respectively. New Mexico State also has a meet against Washington State on Saturday in Pullman, Wash. Nevada will host Nebraska in Reno on Saturday, and San Jose State travels to Davis, Calif., to compete against UC Davis Saturday as well.
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 lost a very close meet to Nevada 157-143 on Oct. 30 in Clovis, Calif. ... the outcome came down to the last race of the day as Nevada led by nine points entering the final event ... the Wolf Pack's 400-yard freestyle relay team took the event, however, giving Fresno State the loss ... the loss puts Fresno State at 1-1 on the season ... the Bulldogs head to Moscow,Idaho to take on the Vandals on Nov. 5 ... they continue their road trip on Nov. 6 as they battle Washington State in Pullman, Wash.
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 beat UC San Diego 130-107 and lost 138-93 to UCLA in a double dual meet in Los Angeles, Calif., Oct. 29 ... freshmen Shana Lim won the 100 backstroke in a time of 55.51, while Sammi Mischkot won the 500 free in 5:12.12 ... Idaho will next host a WAC double dual meet against Fresno State and New Mexico State on Nov. 5-6 in Moscow, Idaho.
Nevada Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack recorded two losses in a double-dual meet hosted by Pacific on Oct. 29 ... Nevada fell to UC Davis 154-99, and to Pacific 156-106 ... sophomore Mengjiao Mi claimied first in the 1,000-yard (10:14.73) and 500-yard (4:59.79) freestyle races ... Nevada recorded its first win of the season on Oct. 30 as the Wolf Pack defeated WAC rival Fresno State 157-143 ... sophomore Chavisa Thaveesupsoonthorn was the Wolf Pack's top swimmer on the day as she claimed first in the 200-yard backstroke (2:06.22) and the 400-yard IM (4:27.43) ... Nevada returns to competition on Nov. 6 in a meet against Nebraska.
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