ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s swimming and diving team earned their third victory of the season on Saturday in their home-opening dual meet versus the University of Wyoming, winning with a final score of 178-122. This was the first time that UNM has beaten Wyoming in a dual meet since the 2002-03 season.
The Lobos won 12 of the 16 events on the day with 21 top-three finishes. Junior Adriana Palomino has still yet to lose an individual event on the season, taking first in the 1000-yard freestyle (10:21.87), the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.00), the 500-yard freestyle (5:03.30) and participating in the winning 200-yard freestyle relay team along with senior Madison Burns, junior Konoha Shinada and sophomore Talia Passarelli (1:35.26).
Burns also continued to shine, as she placed first in three of her events. Along with the 200-yard freestyle relay, Burns and her team won the first event of the day, the 400-yard medley relay, along with juniors Carol De Groote Tavares, Raevin Teran-Richardson and Shinada (3:48.55). Burns also won the 100-yard freestyle (52.09) while placing second in the 50-yard freestyle (23.75) behind teammate Shinada (23.63). Shinada also claimed victory in the 100-yard butterfly (55.31).
De Groote Tavares was the last of the Lobos’ multi-event winners, winning the 100-yard backstroke (57.47) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:03.23) along with her relay wins.
The two other event-winners included junior Emily Huffer, who won the 200-yard butterfly, and freshman Matea Sumajstorcic, winning the 200-yard individual medley. Sumajstorcic also added a trio of top-three performances, earning second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.97) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:07.01), while taking third with fellow freshmen Klara Farkas and Brooke Zukowski and sophomore Breanna Wiercinski in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:38.97).
The Lobos’ other top-three finishers were Teran-Richardson in the 100-yard breaststroke (second, 1:05.44), Farkas in the 200-yard butterfly (third, 2:11.24), Passarelli in the 100-yard freestyle (second, 53.02) and sophomore Asami Terada in the 100-yard butterfly (2:23.70).
“I think we really competed well. It’s still early in the season, but Wyoming is a tough opponent and they are well coached. I think this meet is a good indication of what we need to do from here on out,” said head swimming coach Dorsey Tierney-Walker. “Palomino was great. She really anchored our relay, and I think she sets the tone for the entire team. Burns continued to be consistent, especially on her relays. Shinada, Huffer, and De Groote Tavares all had very solid swims. Particularly De Groote Tavares’s 200 backstroke, which was well executed for this time of year.”
The diving team also made solid contributions to the Lobos’ victory with three top-three finishes in the two events. Junior Allyson Concepcion continued her string of consistency, finishing second in both the one-meter dive (248.18) and the three-meter dive (280.58). Sophomore Natasha Dark also dove well, taking third in the one-meter dive (247.65) while just missing the podium in the three-meter dive (251.18)
“Ally made the zone-cut on the 3-meter, and Natasha Dark pulled some of her personal bests. We still have to work on some of the finer details, but we are seeing a lot of improvement,” said head diving coach Julie Weddle. “I’m really stoked we came out with the win. It was the first time we’ve beat Wyoming at home, and I hope we can carry these performances into conference play. I think the win really helped the team’s motivation and it was good bonding for us. I’m really proud of our team.”
The Lobos next competition is on Saturday, October 28, as they take on Northern Arizona University in a dual meet at 12 p.m. MT.
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