Hepfer Sweeps Diving Titles at NMSU Dual

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — An already shorthanded Lobo swimming and diving team was more so against New Mexico State, but none of that mattered to senior Kristen Hepfer, who turned in a double win, sweeping the 1-meter and 3-meter diving titles for the first time in her career as she continued a resounding senior season.  The two wins were part of four event wins on a brisk afternoon at the outdoor NMSU Swimming and Diving Complex, where NMSU won 198-93 in UNM’s final dual meet prior to conference.

The Lobos have one more meet, the NAU Diving Invitational February 8-10.  There both Hepfer and Alice English, who both have posted Zone qualifying scores during the year, will have one more chance prior to the conference meet to better it.

For Hepfer, the NMSU dual meet was easily her career-best meet, posting a 270.38 score in the 3-meter to take that event, just missing an NCAA Zone qualifying score.  It topped her previous best score of 264.53, which she set against NMSU earlier this season.

In the 1-meter last meet Hepfer again paced the field, winning with a Zone qualifying score of 265.35, also a career-best mark.  The double victory was the first of Hepfer’s career, and while Alice English didn’t dive this week, the combination of the two gives UNM a formidable 1-2 punch heading into the postseason.

UNM picked up two event wins in swimming events, with Layni Andrle picking up her first of the year in the 200-yard individual medley, winning with a time of 216.51.  UNM also took first in the 200-freestyle relay behind Jordan Foster, Katy McCarter, Sophia Corder, and Linda Franco.

Maya Clise took second in 1,000 and Katy McCarter was second in the 100-free.  Alex McGill was also second to Andrle in the 200-IM.