Oct. 10, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - With four all-conference performers returning along with a recruiting class ranked fourth in the nation by CollegeSwimming.com, San Diego State has been picked to finish third in the Mountain West Conference in the league's annual coaches' poll. The Aztecs, who received one first-place vote, finished behind Brigham Young and UNLV in the preseason ranking.
SDSU welcomes back 11 letterwinners from a team that compiled a 9-6 mark and set 13 school records during the 2008-09 season. Head Coach Mike Shrader shared the MWC Coach of the Year award after leading the Aztecs to a sixth-place finish at last season's league championship meet, its highest placing since the 2001 campaign.
San Diego State's all-MWC returnees include senior Elena Karpeeva (100 IM, 100 back, 200 back), juniors Allison Hall (200 fly) and Brooke Vessey (100 fly) along with sophomore Shaida Solimani (100 back, 200 back).
SDSU's recruiting class includes two former NCAA Division I all-Americans plus five swimmers who earned All-America honors as high school athletes. Also included in that group are a pair of Olympic trials qualifiers plus a state swimmer of the year.
The Aztecs get their season underway with a meet against defending national champion Cal on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10:00 a.m. at the Aztec Aquaplex.
The complete MWC preseason poll is as follows:
Pl. Team (1st-Place Votes) Pts. 1. Brigham Young (7)........63 2. UNLV (1).................54 3. San Diego State (1)......49 4. Wyoming..................42 5. Colorado State...........38 6. Utah.....................30 7. TCU......................25 8. New Mexico...............14 9. Air Force.................9