New Mexico Swimming & Diving – at the 2015 Mountain West Championships
Where: Palo Alto College Aquatic Center, San Antonio, Texas
When: Wednesday thru Saturday
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
After posting one of the better seasons ever in the water, the goal for Coach Kunio Kono’s New Mexico swimming and diving team is obvious and simple.
Post the best ever New Mexico finish at the Mountain West Championships – and maybe push a couple of Lobos into the NCAA Championships.
The Lobos have a chance to do exactly that. They are swimming and diving with confidence and have a lot of success under their swim caps in 2014-15.
“This is the best dual meet record in our school history,” Kono said of the 5-1 dual-meet record that New Mexico posted during the 2014-15 season. “I know we have good depth and our girls have great confidence going into the championships.
“However, the MWC Championships are totally different than dual meets and present a different challenge.”
The difference is obvious. There are 10 Mountain West teams converging on the waiting waters at the Palo Alto College Aquatic Center in San Antonio, Texas.
You might have the second best sprinter in a dual meet, but that sprinter might be No. 10 at the Mountain West Championships.
A team needs both quality points and depth to do well at the league championships. The MW meet will run Wednesday through Saturday (Feb. 18-21) in San Antonio where Boise State is expected to defend its 2014 MW title.
Kono said he is expecting the 2015 meet to be a meet with high-level performances.
“The Mountain West is a very tough and very strong conference,” he said. “All teams are well coached and have great swimmers and divers.
“I love to be in that championship atmosphere every year. I’m excited to see fast swims and amazing dives. I think this year will be the fastest championships ever.”
Boise State was picked in a preseason poll to defend the title the Broncos won last season. San Diego State was the No. 2 pick in that poll while the Lobos were tied for sixth in the 10-team race. The Broncos won the MW crown in 2014 and 2012 with SDSU the champion in 2013 leaning on wins in four of the five relays.
Boise State has posted the top times this season in three of the five relays: 800-yard free, 200-yard medley and 400-yard medley. SDSU has the league’s best times in the 200-yard freestyle and the 400-yard free.
The Mountain West will provide live video, scoring and event highlights on the MW Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship Central page which can be found at TheMW.com. There is no charge for the broadcasts.
The Lobos, like all MW teams, have been tapering their workouts lately to have fresh bodies and high energy for the MW championships.
“I believe all our girls are ready to go,” said Kono. “We have been tapering and they look better and faster. We think they are in the best possible condition to compete at a high level at the championships.”
The diving competition could be dominated by Nevada’s Krysta Palmer, who has set Mountain West scoring records in all three dives – 1-meter, 3-meter and platform. She should be challenged by SDSU’s Alexandra Caplan, San Jose State’s Cari Reiswig and on the platform by Wyoming’s Kari Campbell.
Kono’s Lobos finished fifth in the 2014 Mountain West Championships which was the program’s highest finish ever at the MW meet. UNM also set 17 school records last year at the MW Championships, but did not advance a swimmer to the NCAA finals.
The Lobos are looking to qualify swimmers in the top 16 of each event and finish above their fifth-place finish of last season. Teams also are looking for individual bests – which is the point of tapering down to be fresh for the MW meet.
Lobo Kaela McKee has a shot to reach the postseason this year. “She just missed making the NCAA finals last year,” said Kono. “She is stronger and has better technique this year. I can’t wait to see her swim.”
The Lobos’ top middle-distance swimmer is Anna Lengyel. “She is tough,” said Kono. “She is a great competitor and will one of the keys to the team’s success this year. We expect some points from Anna.”
Kono also is looking for points from Abigail Wheeler.
“She is the most improved swimmer on our team this year,” he said. “No one can beat her dedication and commitment to her swimming.
“Her work ethic is outstanding and she is very excited to compete against the top swimmers in the conference. I know she will prove herself to be one of the top swimmers at the Mountain West Championships.”
Here is a look at the top New Mexico Lobo performances in each event for the 2014-15 seasont:
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Morgan Ginnis 23.61
Kaela McKee 23.75
Fanni Pataki 23.56
Shayla King 23.26
Amelie Braul 23.82
1,650-YARD FREESTYLE
Anna Lengyel 17.20.80
Anna Lengyel 17.24.30
Taylor McGregor 17.43.58
100-YARD BUTTERFLY
Abigail Wheeler 56.99
Samantha Moss 55.55
Abigail Wheeler 56.39
Abigail Wheeler 56.72
Abigail Wheeler 56.83
100-YARD FREESTYLE
April Chee 52.26
Shayla King 50.78
Morgan Ginnis 51.89
Amelie Braul 51.62
Fanni Pataki 51.42
100-YARD BACKSTROKE
Kaela McKee 56.25
Kaela McKee 57.01
Kaela McKee 57.18
Caitlin Gardiner 56.30
Kaela McKee 57.08
200-YARD BUTTERFLY
Anna Lengyel 2:06.47
Abigail Wheeler 2:04.58
Anna Lengyel 2:04.56
Celine Bertrand 2:02.93
Anna Lengyel 2:04.98
200-YARD BACKSTROKE
Caitlin Gardiner 2:07.40
Emily McGill 2:06.21
Amber Amr 2:04.41
Caitlin Gardiner 2:00.58
Deidra Dorough 2:06.32
200-YARD IM
Emily McGill 2:08.77
Lindsey Englestead 2:05.45
Kristin Walker 2:09.51
Emily McGill 2:05.21
Emily McGill 2:09.68
500-YARD FREESTYLE
Anna Lengyel 4:57.92
Anna Lengyel 5:07.51
Celine Bertrand 5:09.53
Celine Bertrand 5:09.38
Anna Lengyel 4:59.05
100-YARD BREASTSTROKE
Kristin Walker 1:05.70
Lindsey Englestead 1:04.96
Emily McGill 1:05.16
Kristin Walker 1:05.19
Kristin Walker 1:05.46
400-YARD IM
Celine Bertrand 4:26.89
Emily McGill 4:32.27
Carlie McGregor 4:34.36
Anna Lengyel 4:31.32
Celine Bertrand 4:34.73
1,000 YARD FREESTYLE
Anna Lengyel 10:43.95
Anna Lengyel 10:53.79
Anna Lengyel 10:35.98
Anna Lengyel 10:43.39
Celine Bertrand 10:37.50
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Sarah Weihe 1:55.28
Fanni Pataki 1:53.22
Fanni Pataki 1:54.95
Fanni Pataki 1:55.10
Taylor McGregor 1:54.37
200-YARD BREASTSTROKE
Lindsey Englestead 2:23.27
Kristin Walker 2:23.25
Lindsey Englestead 2:18.43
Emily McGill 2:23.15
Kristin Walker 2:22.66
1-METER SPRINGBOARD
Aundrea Scott 237.40
Rachel Colman 242.03
Kayla Taylor 189.90
3-METER SPRINGBOARD
Rachel Colman 256.35
Aundrea Scott 233.95
Kayla Taylor 190.05
PLATFORM
Aundrea Scott 151.50