THIS WEEK
San Diego State will travel across town this Saturday, Nov. 2, to face the University of San Diego at the Toreros' home pool beginning at noon. Last season, the Aztecs edged USD, 167-129, at the USD Sports Center.
UTAH RECAP
In its first home meet of the season, San Diego State dropped a 173-113 decision to Mountain West Conference foe Utah last Saturday. The Aztecs got a first-place finish from freshman Emily Schmied in the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.27. The two SDSU 200 free relay teams finished one-two in the final event of the day as well. The Aztecs improved their team score by some 21 points over the previous week when they tallied 92 points at UNLV.
SCHMIED SHOWS VERSATILITY
In addition to winning the 100 fly in last weekend's meet against Utah, freshman Emily Schmied also placed second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.35, the top time for an Aztec swimmer this fall. She also swam the third leg of the 400 medley relay team that finished second.
HERE'S THE STOREY
For the second week in a row, junior Megan Storey turned in a pair of second-place finishes in the 500 and 1000 freestyle events against Utah. She also added a third place in the 200 butterfly (2:12.07) in her first attempt at that event this season.
KILPATRICK HAS GOOD OUTING
Senior Erin Kilpatrick had a fine showing in Saturday's meet vs. Utah. She finished second in the 200 butterfly (2:11.67) and third in the 100 fly (1:00.02). She also swam the 400 individual medley and was a member of a 400 medley relay team.
COACHING STAFF
San Diego State head coach Deena Schmidt is in her ninth season as head coach of the Aztec swimming and diving program. The former Olympian, who won a gold as a member of the 400 medley relay team at the 1972 Olympics, is a 1988 graduate of San Diego State. Schmidt is assisted by Greg Hutt, also in his ninth season.
RAY & JOAN KROC COMMUNITY CENTER
San Diego State will hold its home meets this season at the newly completed Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center pool. The facility opened this past summer and is located at 6845 University Avenue. The Aztecs hold their daily practice sessions from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the City Heights Pool.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Nine members of this year's SDSU swim team are true freshmen while four others are sophomores (including one transfer). Only two seniors appear on the 2002-03 roster: Vicky Donnelly and Erin Kilpatrick. The Aztecs lost seven swimmers from last year's roster including senior standouts Megan Casillan, Heather DeFelice and Tara Johnson. That trio all set school records during the 2001-2002 campaign: Casillan - 100 and 200 back, DeFelice - 50 and 100 Free, 100 Breast, Johnson - 200 and 400 medley relays. Casillan and DeFelice were also members of the 200 and 400 medley relay teams.
RECORD HOLDERS
Six swimmers on the 2002-03 San Diego State team return as members of school record-setting relay teams from last season. Those athletes include: 200 Free Relay - Jennifer Graham, Hannah Ryan, Aletta Haff 800 Free Relay - Hannah Ryan, Jennifer Graham, Megan Storey, Erin Kilpatrick 200 Medley Relay - Jill Karacozoff 400 Medley Relay - Kilpatrick
THE SCHEDULE
For the first time since joining the Mountain West Conference, the league will crown a regular-season champion in addition to the conference meet champ. As a result, the Aztecs will swim dual meets against every other MWC school this season. The conference dual meet schedule will be concluded by Nov. 23. SDSU will only host meets against Utah (this weekend) and Air Force (Nov. 16). All other league meets will be away including the contest against Brigham Young, which will take place at New Mexico on Nov. 7.
PRESEASON PICKS
San Diego State has been picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West Conference this season by a poll of the league's coaches. The Aztecs were seventh at last season's MWC Championship meet. The complete preseason poll is as follows:
Team (1st place votes) Pts.1. BYU (6)................472. Colorado State (1).....403. UNLV (1)...............394. Utah...................345. New Mexico.............196. SDSU...................177. Air Force..............168. Wyoming................12
LOOKING AHEAD
The Aztecs will travel to Albuquerque next week where they will swim a triple-dual meet against New Mexico, Brigham Young and Northern Arizona on Thursday, Nov. 7, beginning at 6:00 p.m. They will remain in Albuquerque on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 8-9) to participate in the New Mexico Invitational meet at UNM's pool.