Dec. 16, 2011
THIS WEEK
San Diego State will square off against Cal Poly on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Aztec Aquaplex. The meet will use the Long Course format with all races competed in meters rather than yards. The pool configuration will be adjusted so that each lap is 50 meters instead of the usual 25 yards.
HEAD COACH Mike Shrader
San Diego State head coach Mike Shrader is in his fifth season with the Aztecs and has compiled a dual meet record of 57-13 (.814) during his tenure. Shrader was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year each of the past three seasons (co-coach in 2009). Including eight seasons as the head coach at Nevada, his career record stands at 146-25-1 (.852).
AZTECS DEFEAT NEW MEXICO
In their most recent competition, the Aztecs defeated New Mexico, 153-135, on Dec. 3 at the Aztec Aquaplex. SDSU turned in the fastest times in 11 of the 12 individual swimming events as well as both relays. The Aztecs also captured first place in both diving events. On the swimming side, two Aztecs won two events apiece and were on a winning relay team. Mikaela Macklin won the 100 and 200 backstroke with times of 57.29 and 2:05.73 respectively. Stephanie Koch, meanwhile, took first in both the 50 free (24.27) and 500 free (5:10.27). Both swimmers were members of the 200 medley relay squad. In the diving competition, senior Kristen Meier captured both the one-meter and three-meter springboards with the scores of 311.48 and 331.43.
DIVER OF THE WEEK
San Diego State senior Kristen Meier has been named the Mountain West Diver of the Week for her performance in the dual meet against New Mexico on Dec. 3. It was her third honor of the 2011-12 season and seventh of her career. Her score of 311.48 in the 1-meter ranks second in the league and set a record for SDSU's home facility, the Aztec Aquaplex. Meier's 3-meter score of 331.43 ranks third among Mountain West diving scores this season. Both of her marks last weekend are NCAA Zone qualifying marks as well.
SCHOOL RECORD PERFORMANCE
Freshman Taylor Lakey (Southridge HS; Beaverton, Ore.) set a school record in the 200 butterfly on the final day of the Arena Invitational (Nov. 19). Her time of 2:00.60 was over a second faster than the previous record (2:01.70) that was established by Brooke Vessey at the 2011 Mountain West Championships.
THE STREAK CONTINUES
With its victory over New Mexico, SDSU has now won its last 29 straight dual meets dating back to the 2009-10 season. Its last loss came against Wyoming on Jan. 29, 2010, in Laramie. San Diego State also has a streak of 39 straight dual meet wins against non-conference opponents. The last loss to a non-MWC team was a defeat at North Texas on Nov. 17, 2006. In current head coach Mike Shrader's four seasons at SDSU, the Aztecs have not lost a dual meet to a non-conference foe.
AZTECS IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
At the halfway point of the 2011-12 season, San Diego State has at least two swimmers with times that rank among the Mountain West season top 10 marks in all but two events. SDSU swimmers have a total of 36 top 10 conference times in 14 individual events. The strongest events appear to be the 500 and 1000 free where the Aztecs have recorded the conference's top three times (and a total of five in the top 10). SDSU also had four of the league's top 10 times in the 200 and 1650 free. Four Aztecs have the best times in the conference in their respective events: Meghan Zimmer in the 500 free (4:46.72), Kelly Marquenie in the 100 Free (10:07.42), Leona Jennings in the 200 individual medley (1:59.87) and Melanie Garibaldi in both the 1650 free (16:45.30) and 400 individual medley (4:18.56)
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
San Diego State completed its second consecutive undefeated home season during its 2010-11 campaign. After winning their first three in home meets this season, the Aztecs have now won their last 20 consecutive dual meets at home. SDSU's record at the Aztec Aquaplex stands at 29-3 since the facility opened in the spring of 2008.