USAF ACADEMY, Colo. — The University of New Mexico women’s swimming and diving team finished the first weekend of the its season in commanding fashion on Saturday, claiming victories in their dual meet against Air Force Academy, with a final score of 171 to 123, and against the University of Nebraska-Omaha, with a final score of 196 to 98.
The Lobos participated in 16 events, ending the day with 22 top-three finishes and winning 14 of the events. The team placed top-three in all but one of the events.
Junior Adriana Palomino once again led the way, adding onto her already impressive weekend with three more wins, including the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.13), 500-yard freestyle (5:04.87) and the 1000-yard freestyle (10:48.15). UNM’s other multiple-event winners included junior Carol De Groote Tavares and senior Madison Burns, with De Groote Tavares capturing both the 100-yard backstroke (57.89) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:05.50). Burns won both the 50-yard freestyle (23.85) and the 100-yard freestyle (52.22). Both De Groote Tavares and Burns participated in the Lobos’ second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay along with junior Konoha Shinada and freshman Brooke Zukowski (1:46.03).
The team was also well represented by its freshman class as Matea Sumajstorcic and Klara Farkas both had top-three finishes. Sumajstorcic won the 200-yard individual medley (2:10.56) and claimed second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.85), and Farkas took second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:11.26).
The Lobos’ other event winners included junior Raevin Teran-Richardson in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:06.65), junior Emily Huffer in the 200-yard butterfly (2:09.24), sophomore Asami Terada in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:26.79) and Konoha Shinada in the 100-yard butterfly (56.35).
Huffer, Terada and Shinada also had other top-three finishes along with sophomore Talia Passarelli. Huffer took second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:10.89), Terada finished third in the 100-yard backstroke (1:07.57), Shinada finished second in the 50-yard freestyle and Passarelli took third in the 100-yard freestyle (54.42).
“We definitely performed a bit better today and applied some strategies. Our skills were a little better at the beginning of the meet, and we had some great performances in the relays, really across the board,” said head swimming coach Dorsey Tierney-Walker. “As for individual performances, we had a few swimmers win their first collegiate events. Raevin Teran-Richardson in the 100 breaststroke, that was the first time she’s been victorious in a dual meet. Asami Terada in the 200 breaststroke, Matea Sumajstorcic won the 200 individual medley. Other outstanding performances like Emily Huffer in the 200 butterfly, and Madi Burns continued to build off of yesterday. She had another outstanding day. Palomino won all three of her events, too.All-in-all, it was a good weekend, there’s lots to build on and we’re looking forward to continuing to get better here in the next couple weeks against Wyoming and Northern Arizona.”
For the diving team, the day was dominated by junior Allyson Concepcion who won both diving events. Concepcion finished with a score of 257.20 in the one-meter dive, and scored a 259.70 in the three-meter dive. Sophomore Valencia McDonald also had another strong day, finishing third with a 248.45 in the three-meter dive.
“I’m extremely happy with today’s performance. I love my team’s versatility, their encouragement and enthusiasm for each other is just amazing,” said head diving coach Julie Weddle. “We still have some improvements to be made, but the season is early. I’m really excited to see how the rest of the season pans out.”
The UNM swimming and diving team will host its home-opening dual meet against the University of Wyoming next Saturday, October 21 at 12 p.m.
Be sure to follow UNM women’s swimming and diving on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date throughout the season.