ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico swimming and diving team are expecting a competition-packed week as they will kick off the official season in three different locations.
The Lobos will first travel to Laramie, Wyo. to take on the Cowgirls on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. for the first meet of the 2014-15 season. Two consecutive meets will follow as the team will also travel to Greely, Colo. to face Northern Colorado on Friday at 5:00 p.m. then to Denver, Colo. where they will participate in the Denver Relay Meet on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
Along with New Mexico, Thursday’s meet also stands as the opening of Wyoming’s official season. The two saw each other last year in a quad-meet at the Seidler Natatorium where the Lobos ultimately fell to the Cowgirls with a final score of 210 to 123. This year, the teams will be competing one-on-one with the Lobos returning 13 letter winners and the Cowgirls coming back with 19.
Wyoming placed just above New Mexico’s fifth-place finish at the 2014 Mountain West Swimming and Diving Championship as they finished fourth with a total of 455 points.
As Friday rolls around, UNM will see Northern Colorado who will begin competition after a Blue & Gold intra-squad meet. The Bears currently hold an 0-0 record and a roster of 15 letter winners.
Saturday will conclude New Mexico’s back-to-back days of both travel and competition as they will finish the week off at the Denver Relay Meet.
New Mexico will jump back into the water after a taste of competition in this season’s “Cherry” and “Silver” games and intra-squad meet. The Lobo roster is packed with a total of 26 athletes, three of which are returning all-conference selections. Sophomore Kaela McKee, junior Shayla King, and senior Caitlin Gardiner were among a total of seven athletes announced to the 2013-2014 swimming and diving All-Conference team.
The Lobos will have a short one-week break from competition as they will host Air Force next in a home meet on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 12:00 p.m.