SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State swim and dive program returns to action on Friday, Jan. 27, when it squares off against the University of San Diego in a dual meet for the third time this season.
Aztec swimmers will battle the Toreros in 14 races at the USD Sports Center Pool, while SDSU plays host to the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events at Aztec Aquaplex. Both competitions are slated to begin at 2 p.m. PT.
The Aztecs will be looking to extend their dual-meet victory streak after knocking off Pepperdine at home on Jan. 13 by a count of 139.5 to 131.5 for their 49th consecutive win.
With the triumph, SDSU has not dropped a dual meet since Jan. 8, 2018—a span of over five years—raising its record to 13-0 on the season.
Friday's meet will mark SDSU's third of four encounters with the Toreros this year after the Scarlet and Black posted a 135-119 victory at Aztec Aquaplex on Dec.19. The Aztecs will also engage USD in a long course meet at home on April 20. The two sides opened the 2022-23 campaign with their annual pentathlon meet, as San Diego State prevailed by a 33-24 count at the Aquaplex.
In last month's encounter, the Aztecs recorded the fastest time in all 14 swim events—winning nine—to defeat the Toreros for the 29th straight occasion dating back to 2001, including pentathlon meets.
Mai McKenna and Meredith Smithbaker emerged triumphant in two races that counted towards the Scarlet and Black's team score, while Paige Mitchell, Wilma Johansson, Emily Tenczar and Lizzie Menzmer also took home individual crowns.
McKenna captured event titles in the 100 backstroke (53.92) and 200 backstroke (1:58.92) and logged the fastest time in the 200 individual medley (2:00.30), with all three of her individual performances representing Aztec Aquaplex pool records and personal collegiate bests. For her efforts, the SDSU sophomore garnered MW Swimmer of the Week accolades over the holiday break on Jan. 10.
Collectively this season, the Aztecs have recorded 16 of the top-10 fastest times in program history, including Alex Roberts, who claimed event titles at the SMU Invitational in November in the 200 backstroke (1:54.91) and 100 backstroke (52.90), both of which rank second on the school's all-time charts. Not surprisingly, Roberts received Mountain West Swimmer of the Week recognition for those accomplishments on Nov. 22.
In all, the Aztecs have racked up eight conference weekly honors so far this year, including their most recent recipient in diver Ximena Lechuga Gonzalez, who received such distinction for her showing at the three-day UCLA Bruin Diving Invitational, Jan. 13-15.
With her award, Lechuga Gonzalez merited her second straight conference weekly certificate and third of the season, giving her 10 such plaudits for her career.
Under often rainy conditions and against a stacked field that included numerous Power 5 schools, Lechuga Gonzalez was the lone Mountain West participant to advance to the finals of all three events (platform, 1-meter, 3-meter) that weekend.
Following Friday's activities vs. USD, Aztec divers will travel to the Grand Canyon State for the NAU Lumberjack Invitational, Feb. 3-5, in Flagstaff, Arizona.
San Diego State will look to defend its conference title two weeks later when it ventures to the Lone Star State for the Mountain West Championship, Feb. 15-18, in Houston, Texas.