Swimming & Diving to Not Compete in 2020-21 Season
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico swimming and diving program will not compete in the 2020-21 season, instead turning their attention to next year’s 2021-22 season. The decision was made and supported by the student-athletes after a team meeting.
The team had not announced a schedule for the 2020-21 season, and the team has not been able to practice due to the current health order in the state of New Mexico. The 2021 Mountain West Championships are scheduled for February 18-20, with the swimming championships hosted by UNLV the diving championships hosted by Air Force. The team needed to have competed in four meets prior to the championships.
“It’s an unfortunate circumstance for the student-athletes and coaches but one that I support ,” said Director of Athletics Eddie Nuñez, “We will continue to support our student-athletes throughout this time and we look forward to a successful return to competition in the 2021-22 season.”
Second-year head coach Keegan Ingelido noted that while it was not an easy decision for the team to make, it has the support of not just the team, but the staff, administration and sports medicine personnel.
“Every season we want to be able to compete to the best of our ability. We will now focus our training to be better student-athletes for next season, whether that be in the pool or the weight room,” said Ingelido, adding, “Mental health and academics are very important to our staff and department. We are doing everything in our power to provide our student-athletes with the resources to be successful in these aspects here at UNM. The hope is that this will afford our team the opportunity to provide additional focus to excel as students and individuals as they do in athletics.”
Ingelido was thankful for the support of the administration in supporting the team during this time. “I would like to thank Eddie Nuñez and Ryan Berryman for their support and guidance throughout this difficult process. I would also like to thank our compliance, sports medicine, and academic staffs for all they have done to help us through this transition.”
The 2020-21 season counted as a redshirt season for the entire team, so all student-athletes are eligible to return to the team for the 2021-22 season. The current squad had only three seniors on the roster in captains Brooke Zukowski, Sara Rogers and Hannah Tiendas. The team has announced nine additions for the 2021-22 season.
Zukowski and Tiendas were team captains along with junior Raine Gavino. Said Gavino of the decision, “It was truly a tough call for the team and coaches to decide whether or not our team would compete during these unprecedented times. We were dealt unlucky cards and it was a struggle to get into a normal routine during the pandemic.”
Gavino added, “The only thing we can do now is use what time we have left in this season to grow both individually and as a team and be better for next season. We feel for our seniors, Brooke, Sara, and Hannah as they were unable to finish their collegiate journey. We would not be the team we are today if not for those three.”
UNM was returning six student-athletes that earned All-Mountain West honors at the 2020 championships, and all should be back for the 2021-22 season.