Oct. 11, 2007
SAN DIEGO - It is the beginning of a new era for the San Diego State women's swimming team. With the recently completed, state-of-the-art Aztec Aquaplex and a new head coach with numerous accomplishments under his belt, SDSU is looking to turn around a program that has struggled in the past.
The first step in the rebuilding process was finished in March, when the two-pool, 112,000-square foot Aztec Aquaplex was opened on Montezuma Mesa. The 50-meter competition pool can accommodate a multitude of swimming events, as well as diving events with its one- and three-meter springboards.
The next step for San Diego State was the hiring of Mike Shrader as the head coach of the Aztec swimming and diving team. Shrader, who spent the previous eight years as the head coach at Nevada, brings a wealth of experience and success to The Mesa. Shrader led the Wolf Pack to an 89-12-1 record during his tenure, including a perfect 18-0 season and the school's first-ever Western Athletic Conference championship in 2007.
In addition to a new home facility and head coach, San Diego State will return all but three of its swimmers from the 2006-07 squad that went 9-8 in dual meet competition, marking the first winning season for SDSU since 2004 and its most wins since 2002. Even more encouraging is the fact that the Aztecs will have a group of five talented seniors, who have all been selected as team captains, to anchor the squad in 2008. This year's senior class has put in the time and effort to make its last season one to remember.
"I am blessed to inherit the group of seniors that we have," said Shrader. "They are the most important pieces to getting our program headed in the right direction and I want to see them go out with a winning team.
"I am extremely excited about the senior leadership this season. We will be as good as our leaders."
Brittany Daly (Bay Shore, N.Y.), who established the fourth-best mark in school history for the 1,000 free last year, will be one of the Aztecs' top returning distance swimmers. In addition to her record-setting performance, Daly also swam the team's second-fastest times of the season in the 500 and 1,650 free.
"Brittany will be in the first individual event of every meet and will have the opportunity to get us on the board," said Shrader. "She is off to a good start training-wise and is excited about being one of our team leaders."
Ana Dowell (Phoenix, Ariz.) is expected to be one of the Aztecs' top butterfly swimmers as well as freestyle sprint specialists. In 2007, Dowell captured the 100 and 200 fly at two separate dual meets en route to establishing SDSU's top time of the season in both events. She also held the second-best mark in the 50 and 100 free for the Aztecs.
"Ana is one of the most talented, hard-working, butterfly and freestyle swimmers that I have had the pleasure to coach," said Shrader. "She is well on her way to destroying school records this year. Ana has also been a great leader both in and out of the water."
Christine Graham (Santa Rosa, Calif.) and Kathleen Merrill (Elk Grove, Calif.) will anchor a strong group of breaststrokers this season. Graham and Merrill both swam personal-bests in the 100 and 200 breaststroke last year. Merrill was also named to the 2007 MWC all-academic team.
"Christine was one of our top scorers last year and will be one of our top breaststrokers this year," said Shrader. "She has an incredible work ethic and has already done many things to show her leadership abilities within the program.
"Kathleen, meanwhile, is a very versatile swimmer and we will use her in key spots. She has a very challenging academic schedule, but she is working around it to go out in style with a great senior year."
Rounding out the senior class is Katie Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.), a 2007 all-MWC performer. Smith finished sixth in the 100 backstroke at the MWC championships last year and also ranks in the top-five in Aztec history for both the 100 and 200 backstroke events.
"Katie will get the chance to start off every meet for us in the medley relay, so she has an excellent opportunity to get us out in front at each competition," said Shrader. "She is working harder than she ever has in her life and she has an awesome opportunity to make her NCAA cut this year."
With a new facility, a new head coach and an outstanding group of senior captains ready to lead the way, a breakthrough season appears to be on the horizon for the Aztec swimmers.
San Diego State will hold its second Red-Black meet on Friday, Oct. 12 at 2:30 p.m. SDSU swimming and diving will then host its first regular-season meet on Oct. 27 at noon (PST), when Air Force, Colorado State and New Mexico pay a visit to the Aztec Aquaplex.