SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State swim and dive team won its 45th consecutive dual meet on Saturday with a 135-118 triumph over Utah Tech at Aztec Aquaplex.
With the victory, the Aztecs have not dropped a dual meet since Jan. 8, 2018, a span of nearly five years, as the Scarlet and Black improves to 8-0 this season.
In 14 swimming events, SDSU recorded the fastest time in 11 races, winning nine.
In their first-ever clash with the Trailblazers, the Aztecs began the day in style by capturing the top three spots in the 400 medley relay. The combo of Riley Tapley, Meredith Smithbaker Lizzie Menzmer and Jeannette King touched the wall with a winning time of 3:49.75, while the quartet of Evonne Stehr, Moa Bergdahl, Mai McKenna and Avery Turney placed second with a 3:52.26 clocking.
In addition, the foursome of Abby Storm, Christiana Williams, Emily Gebhardt and Alyssa Schiller took third with a time of 3:53.47, although the result was counted as an exhibition.
Paige Mitchell was SDSU's lone competitor in the 1,000 freestyle, where she finished third with a season-best clocking of 10:35.73.
The Aztecs won the next six races, including the 200 freestyle, where Kristina Murphy and Lyndsey Wehr claimed the top two spots. Competing in the event for the first time this season, Murphy touched the wall with a career-fast 1:53.12, while Wehr followed at 1:56.10. In addition, Emily Allen took fifth after a swim of 2:01.13.
SDSU's winning ways continued in the 100 backstroke, as McKenna turned in a season-fast time of 56.47, while King placed fifth with a clocking of 1:00.25.
The Aztecs captured three of the top four spots in the 100 breaststroke, led by Williams, who emerged triumphant with a time of 1:03.92, while Stehr took third at 1:06.38, followed by Tapley's fourth-place swim of 1:09.57.
The 200 butterfly was next on the schedule, with SDSU's Wilma Johansson touching the wall at 2:04.95 to edge teammate Gebhardt (2:05.15) for the top spot.
The Aztecs subsequently flexed their proverbial muscles in the 50 freestyle, logging the top three finishes, including a winning effort by Turney, who clocked in at 23.93, followed by Menzmer (24.43) and Schiller (24.65). In addition, Bergdahl tied for fifth at 25.12, but her swim was deemed an exhibition.
The 100 freestyle ensued with SDSU grabbing the top two positions once again. Murphy prevailed with a winning time of 52.35, while Wehr followed closely at 52.61. In addition, Gebhardt took fifth with a clocking of 54.46.
The Aztecs' streak was temporarily halted in the 200 backstroke, where Storm was second with a time of 2:03.74, while Alex Roberts took fifth at 2:09.02, followed by Mitchell, who placed sixth at 2:14.30.
SDSU quickly came back to dominate the 200 breaststroke, claiming four of the top five spots, including another winning performance by Williams, who clocked in at 2:19.71, while McKenna (2:20.72) and Bergdahl (2:21.46) finished second and third, respectively. Additionally, Meredith Smithbaker was fifth with a time of 2:23.83, although her result was recorded as an exhibition.
The Aztecs had three swimmers compete in the 500 freestyle, where Allen finished fourth at 5:31.01, followed in succession by Turney (5:32.28) and Schiller (5:39.83).
Once again, San Diego State returned to take control of the 100 butterfly, boasting three of the top-five finishers, including a victorious time of 57:38 by Menzmer, while Murphy (57.86) and Tapley (57.97) took fourth and fifth, respectively, in a tight race.
With a comfortable lead on the team scoreboard safely in tow, the Aztecs swam exhibitions in the final two events.
McKenna actually posted the fastest time in the 200 individual medley after touching the wall at 2:05.53, while Bergdahl had the third-best clocking of 2:10.64, followed by Williams (4th, 2:12.00).
Likewise, SDSU recorded the two best times in the 200 freestyle relay, as Wehr, King, Turney and Schiller combined for an effort of 1:35.83, while the quartet of Stehr, Allen, Murphy and Tapley clocked in at 1:36.74.
San Diego State returns to the pool in two weeks when it travels to the Lone Star State for the SMU Invitational, Nov. 17-19, in Dallas, Texas.
Aztecs Sink Utah Tech, 135-118
