Jan. 22, 2007
THIS WEEK
San Diego State continues dual meet action this Friday as it travels to Malibu for a double dual meet against Cal Poly and Pepperdine. That contest gets underway at noon at the Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool in Malibu, Calif.
Coaching Staff
San Diego State head coach Deena Schmidt is in her 13th season as head coach of the Aztec swimming and diving program. The former Olympian, who won a gold medal 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 13th season. Jim Wynne is in his fifth season as the Aztec diving coach.
Most Recently
The Aztecs ended a short two-meet losing steak with a 111-70 win over Howard University at the Kroc Community Center on Jan. 19. Four SDSU athletes won two events each in win over the Bison. That foursome included Kimberlee Frith (50 and 100 freestyle), Katie Smith (100 backstroke and 200 individual medley), Brittany Daly (500 and 1000 freestyle) and freshman Caitlin Atkinson (1-meter and 3-meter diving). Frith and Smith were also on relays that finished first.
Winning Out
Should San Diego State win its final three dual meets of the season, it would mark the best victory total for the Aztecs since the 2001-02 season when they had 10. SDSU's final three contests are vs. Pepperdine, Cal Poly and University of San Diego, all on the road.
Senior Leaders
With the meet against Howard being SDSU's final contest of the season at the Kroc Center, the Aztecs took the opportunity to honor two senior athletes competing in their final home meet.
Fourth-year Aztec Emily Parker is in the SDSU record book with the fourth-best time ever in the 1,000 freestyle. This season, she has recorded the team's best-time in the 500 and 1650 freestyle and second-best marks in the 200 and 1000 freestyle.
Senior Kimberlee Frith, in her second season at San Diego State, is the school record holder in both the 100 and 200 free and has recorded top-five times in the 50 and 500 free as well. She was also a member of three freestyle relay teams that set school records last season.
Zone Qualifier
Freshman diver Caitlin Atkinson recorded a Zone E qualifier score in the 1-meter event when she totaled 268.59 points during the UNLV Winter Invitational in mid-December. Her score allows her to advance to the zone meet in mid-February where she will attempt to qualify for the 2007 NCAA championship meet to be held in Minneapolis March 8-10.
Record Setters
Atkinson's score of 268.59 at the UNLV Winter Invitational was a San Diego State record for the 1-meter board. She broke her own record of 264.08 which she set at the dual meet at North Texas on Nov. 17. Teammate Megan Flanagan established an SDSU record in the three-meter board with 265.20 points at North Texas.
Consistent Improvement
Among the Aztecs' seven swimmers who are returnees after one or more seasons at SDSU, a total of 22 personal best times have been recorded in various events this season. In addition, both returning divers have established new career-high scores in the 1-meter and 3-meter.
Among the MWC Leaders
San Diego State swimmers rank among the top 21 in the Mountain West Conference in various individual events at the mid-point of the season.
Leading the way is senior Kimberlee Frith, who is among the top 10 in a pair of events: fifth in the 200 free (1:52.56) and seventh in the 100 free (52.54).
Four other Aztecs ranks among the top 10 in the MWC in their respective events:
Emily Parker - 6th in 500 free (5:02.33)
Jessica Morrill - 7th in 200 breast (2:21.63)
Katie Smith - 9th in 200 back (2:06.37)
Caitlin Atkinson - 9th in 1m diving (267.00)
Aztec Notes
*** Of the 20 swimmers currently on the SDSU roster, 13 are either freshmen or sophomores.
*** Three Aztecs set new season personal bests vs. Howard last week. Kathleen Merrill went 26.21 in the 50 free, Kendal Twilling swam a 2:00.25 in the 200 free and Emily Parker recorded a 10:33.70 in the 1000 free.
*** Freshman diver Amy Freeberg showed dramatic improvement in the 3-meter board last week, recording a score of 263.09 vs. Howard. Her previous season-high point total in that event was 246.59.
*** Freshman Jessica Morrill's mark of 2:21.63 in the 200 breaststroke at the UNLV Winter Invitational on Dec. 18 ranks as the fifth-best time ever by an Aztec swimmer.
*** The meet against Howard was San Diego State's final contest at the Kroc Community Center. The SDSU Aquaplex, the school's new facility located behind Tony Gwynn Stadium, is slated to open in early February and will be the team's new home nest season.
Looking Ahead
San Diego State will conclude its 2006-07 regular season as it travels across town to take on local rival University of San Diego on Saturday, Feb. 3, at noon at the Toreros' USD Sports Center Pool. Following that meet, the Aztecs will have two weeks to prepare for the annual Mountain West Conference Championships to be held Feb. 21-24 in Oklahoma City.