ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s swimming and diving team will begin the 2016-17 season under the guidance of a new swimming coach when the Lobos open up at Wyoming on Friday.
Dorsey Tierney-Walker, who guided the Auburn women’s swimming and diving team as a co-head coach to national titles in 2006 and 2007, takes over the program after being at Arizona State from 2009-15 as the men’s and women’s coach.
The season opener will be Tierney-Walker’s first chance to see her team in action in a meet situation – something she’s eager to watch.
“We’ve focused a lot on executing and improving our skill,” Tierney-Walker said. “I’m excited to see how we implement that in a racing situation now. This will be a good for me to gauge to see what we need to do to continue to improve. We’ve also worked a lot on racing fitness, particularly on being engaged and being fit at the end of our races.”
The Lobos return four All-Mountain West swimmers this season in seniors Anna Lengyel (200 butterfly) and Abigail Wheeler (200 butterfly) and in sophomores Adriana Palomino (500 and 1,650 freestyle) and Konoha Shinada (100 butterfly).
Palomino also set school records in the 200 (1:48.78) and 500 (4:47.86) freestyle last season while senior Emily McGill set UNM records in the 200 (2:03.14) and 400 (4:21.68) individual medley. Madison Burns and Kaela McKee return from a 200 freestyle relay squad that set a school record last season while Palomino, Lengyel and Emily Huffer were part of an 800 freestyle relay team that also set a Lobo record.
While Tierney-Walker said numerous swimmers have improved in the short time she’s been there – she sees a pair of swimmers in McGill and sophomore Carol De Groote Tavares having the opportunity to make big gains from a season ago.
“Carol De Groote is quite the skilled backstroker,” Tierney-Walker said. “Especially as a sophomore, you tend to see some bigger moves after they’ve had a year to make an adjustment (to collegiate swimming). Emily McGill is another one. As a senior I think she’s ready to make a jump to the next level.”
Lengyel, Wheeler, McGill and McKee along with fellow senior Lindsey Englestead have provided strong leadership for the Lobos, particularly while enduring a coaching change said Tierney-Walker.
“In the short time I’ve been here I’ve been very impressed with the leadership of our squad, especially with a new coach coming in,” Tierney-Walker said. “They’ve really embraced some of the work that we’ve been doing. That’s not always an easy thing to do. Strong leadership will be one of our strengths this year.”
As for the divers, sophomore Allyson Concepcion leads the returnees back after just missing the cut (only by 0.15 points) for the B finals at the Mountain West Championships last season as a freshman. Madeline Horner also returns after claiming sixth-place finishes against New Mexico State and in a tri-meet against San Diego State and Washington State. Rounding out the divers will be sophomore Alex Aaberg and freshman Valencia McDonald.
Following Friday’s meet at Wyoming, the Lobos return to Albuquerque to host one of their two home meets this season Oct. 29 versus Northern Arizona. New Mexico’s other home meet will be Dec. 3 versus Air Force and Colorado State.
Lobo swimming & diving set for opener at Wyoming
