Nov. 14, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
SAN DIEGO -
THIS WEEK
After postponing its first two meets of the season due to the wildfires in southern California, San Diego State will open its 2007-08 campaign with a double dual meet against Utah and Boise State in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. PT. The Aztecs will be scored against both the Utes and the Broncos separately.
PREVIOUSLY ON THE MESA
Although the Aztecs' first two home meets were postponed due to the worst wildfires in state history, SDSU's divers made a trip to Los Angeles, Calif., for the USC Trojan Diving Invitational from Nov. 2-3. Sophomore Caitlin Atkinson led the way with an appearance in the finals of both the one- and three-meter events. Also making the cut for the one-meter finals were freshman Keely Brooks and sophomore Kristen Maurer.
SCOUTING THE UTES
Head coach Greg Winslow and his Utes are off to a 1-3 overall record and 1-1 in the Mountain West Conference, in his first year at Utah. Last weekend, Utah fell to UNLV, 159-136. Natalie Edge led the Ute women, capturing the 50 free and placing second in the 100 free, while diver Kwan Ling Yu won both the one- and three-meter events.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Head coach Kristin Hill is in her second year at the helm of the Boise State program, which is only in its second year of existence. The Broncos are 3-2 on the season after defeating the College of Idaho (156-80) and Mesa College (151-97) last week.
SERIES HISTORY
Since the inception of the Mountain West Conference in 1999-00, SDSU trails the series with Utah, 6-1, and is yet to record a win in Salt Lake City (0-3). Last year, the Utes defeated the Aztecs 133-105 in San Diego.
Saturday's dual meet will mark the second meeting between the Aztecs and the Broncos. SDSU leads the series 1-0, after defeating Boise State, 204-29, in San Diego last year.
THE COACHING STAFF
Mike Shrader, who spent the past eight years as the head coach at Nevada-Reno, begins his first season at San Diego State. While at Nevada, Shrader led the Wolf Pack to an 89-12-1 record, two conference titles and four NCAA championship appearances.
Brendon Bray, who came to Montezuma Mesa from the University of Washington, begins his first season as an assistant coach at SDSU, while Jim Wynne enters his sixth season as the Aztecs diving coach.
SENIOR LEADERS
The Aztecs have selected their five seniors as captains for the 2007-08 season, and the group's accomplishments show why they deserve to be in such a leadership position. Brittany Daly swam the fourth-best time in Aztec history in the 1,000 free last year, while Ana Dowell held the team's top marks of the season in both the 100 and 200 fly. Christine Graham and Kathleen Merrill each swam personal-bests in the 100 and 200 breaststroke in 2006-07, and Katie Smith currently ranks among the top-five all-time at SDSU in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
San Diego State welcomes 11 newcomers, including six true freshmen to Montezuma Mesa.
Three transfers will join the Aztecs this year, including juniors Alexandra Rogers (Los Angeles, Calif./Pierce College) and Emily Pool (San Diego, Calif./Mesa College), as well as sophomore Nino Metsar (Tallinn, Estonia/New Mexico State).
Also joining the swim team are junior Jenna Schuster (Upland, Calif.) and sophomore Jamie Vessey (Redlands, Calif.), who both helped the Aztec water polo team make its first-ever appearance in the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships last year.
Six freshmen will also look to contribute in the pool this year. Keely Brooks (St. Louis, Mo.), Gina DiDomenico (La Junta, Colo.), Stephanie Henderson (La Quinta, Calif.), Kristen Henry (Lake Forest, Calif.), Noelle Holland (Casa Grande, Ariz.), and Brooke Vessey (Redlands, Calif.), make up the Aztecs' talented class of 2011.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Since the 1999-00 season, the San Diego State women's swimming and diving team has called the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center its "home." But this year, the squad will make the transition from the Kroc Center to a state-of-the-art swimming facility on campus, the Aztec Aquaplex.
The 112,000 square-foot Aztec Aquaplex features two pools, one for competition and another for recreation, in addition to a hydrotherapy spa. The competition pool can accommodate a multitude of swimming and diving events with its one- and three-meter springboards.
The Aztecs' first home meet is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2008, against TCU and Air Force.
ON DECK
The Aztecs will take a week off before traveling to Hayward, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 1 for a dual meet with Cal State East Bay at noon. SDSU continues its road swing the following week when they head to Wyoming (Dec. 8).