Feb. 23, 2010
Lobo Swimming & Diving
What: Mountain West Conference Championships
Where: OKCCC Aquatic Center, Oklahoma City
When:Wednesday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. starts each day
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
In a way, the bittersweet taste that comes for Lobo coach Tracy Ljone during the Mountain West Conference Swimming & Diving Championships was quicker and easier in 2009. She only had one Lobo senior to hug goodbye.
This week at the MWC Championships Ljone has to say goodbye to five special Lobos: Ashley Grisdale, Jennifer Patterson, Bridget O’Hara, Alexandra Lusk and Sasha Evangulova.
“All five of our seniors are having great years and that says something for the type of competitors they are and the work they have put in the pool,” said Ljone. “They have been getting their best times, their best scores this season.
“I think I’m the one who usually gets the saddest. I see these girls come in, some as freshmen, and I get to see them work and grow and mature. You become very close on this team. I think that’s one of the huge pluses of Lobo swimming.
“I believe our team is a lot closer than a lot of other teams. We promote camaraderie, team spirit, caring about each other and we carry that over to academics and social life. Our girls are very close.”
That’s why the MWC Championships are so special for Ljone and her Lobos. It’s their last hurray as a full team at a big meet. They gather. They swim hard. They appreciate those final laps, the final dives, and final days together.
“I’m going to miss my teammates so much,” said senior Alex Lusk.
The MWC finals are a special meet for all swimmers. They have tapered down their rigorous training schedule to be fresh and fit for the league championship. That also puts the swimmers in a good mood.
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“It`s always a fun meet,” said Ljone. “Everyone is rested and excited about the competition. The atmosphere is great. There will be a couple thousand fans. All the schools will be there. It`s just a neat event.”
It’s also the culmination for a season of hard work. Well, unless you manage to clock in at NCAA standards and advance to the NCAA postseason. That’s a Lobo goal, too.
“We go in looking for season bests from everyone. That’s our goal,” said Ljone. “We are tapered (rested) and we will have on our fast suits. Our goal is to get as many swimmers and divers as we can into the Top 16.”
The Lobos have a number of good shots at the Top 16 in individual events, relays and diving: Patterson, Marissa Campbell, Grisdale, Maria Dudley, Jocelyn Colella, Lindsey Morris, Nanette Wittenberg, Sally Bellinger, Jennifer Burgess, Tonya Gramstad, Aubrey Bush, Tesse Maciejko, Evangulova, Lusk, O’Hara, and Ashlee Erickson – to name a few.
“The divers should have a great meet,” said Ljone. “All four of them (Bush, Evangulova, Lusk and Erickson) should make the Top Eight.”
The meet favorite on the women’s side is no surprise. The Brigham Young Cougars are looking for their fourth straight MWC title and their ninth out of the past 11 years. BYU is 11-0 on the year and 8-0 against MWC competition.
The Cougars might get a run from Wyoming. The Cowgirls’ only loss came to BYU in posting a 14-1 overall mark and a 7-1 league record. San Diego State went 14-3 overall this season and Colorado State went 8-2.
Any Lobos who push their way into the finals will then be hoping to crack the NCAA cuts and/or grab a MWC title.
“Our seniors also will be on a lot of relays,” said Ljone. “Those events are fun to get pumped up over because you are really swimming as a team.”
Each Lobo swimmer can compete in three individual races and four relays.The MWC Championships will hold a practice session on Tuesday with the real action running Wednesday thru Saturday with events beginning at 10 a.m. each day.