ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – “Every race counts, we’ve been training very hard so I want you all to race very hard. In all of your events, go all out.” head coach Kunio Kono announced to rile up New Mexico’s swimming and diving team this morning for their third annual Intra-Squad meet in the Seidler Natatorium.
The athletes divided into two teams, “The Cherry Bomb” captained by seniors Samantha Moss and Anastasia Welchert. Their team included Amber Amr, Amelie Braul, Madison Burns, April Chee, Deidra Dorough, Lindsey Englestead, Caitlin Gardiner, Anna Lengyel, Kayla Taylor, Lauren Tininenko and Abigail Wheeler.
Their competition was “The Silver Bullet” team, which was captained by seniors Taylor McGregor and Anna Lilliestrom. Celine Bertrand, Rachel Colman, Morgan Ginnis, Shayla King, Emily McGill, Carlie McGregor, Kaela McKee, Fanni Pataki, Aundrea Scott, Kristin Walker and Sarah Weihe completed the silver roster.
The teams gathered on opposite sides of the natatorium and chanted loudly before kicking off the meet with the 200-yard medley relay.
There were a total of 13 events that followed where the athletes gained competitive practice in the 300-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, 500-yard medley relay, 3-meter diving, 50-yard butterfly, 400-yard medley relay, 200-yard breaststroke relay, 100-yard freestyle, 1-meter diving, 200-yard freestyle relay, 200 yard IM, and the 6×50 yard freestyle relay.
For the springboard events were special appearances by seniors Caitlin Gardiner and Sarah Weihe, orginially back/free and back swimmers, respectively. The two got a glimpse of diving contest and ratings during the playful event.
The Intra-Squad meet was a fun, exciting time for the swimmers and divers but was also nothing short of real competition either. The meet was a part of the overall “Cherry-Silver Games” and determined who this year’s winners were.
The finale of the event found “Silver” victorious. They were awarded gift cards which are to be used for themselves and also shared with one member of the “Cherry” team.
Head coach Kono believes the Intra-Squad meet was successful and says the athletes bonded and competed well. He looks forward to their upcoming competition, “Our first meet against Wyoming is one of the toughest meets of the season. But I think we have great bodies and great kids so we have big things waiting for us. We’re not going to rest and I think we’ll have a good shot. We’re ready.”
UNM will participate in their first official meet of the season in Laramie, Wyo. on Thu, Oct. 9 at 5:00 p.m.