SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State swim and dive team continues its busy stretch this week when it plays host to Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount in a double dual meet at Aztec Aquaplex. First race is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT, and admission is free.
A total of 10 swimming events consisting of two heats will be conducted on Friday, leading off with the 200 medley relay, while the 200 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 100 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 freestyle relay follow in succession. Swimmers in the field will be able to compete in two individual races and one relay.
In addition, SDSU divers will square off against Pepperdine on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard, with both events held concurrently during swimming competition.
Aztec swimmers are coming off a 33-24 victory over Alaska Fairbanks in a pentathlon meet in their last outing at Aztec Aquaplex on Jan. 9. SDSU featured the top seven pentathlon finishers, led by Mai McKenna, who claimed the individual title after posting a combined effort of 4:58.23, edging Reka Nyiradi (4:59.99) by less than two seconds.
Additionally, Evonne Stehr was a close third in the final standings with a time of 5:00.34, followed by Christiana Williams (5:02.98), Moa Bergdahl (5:07.25), Avery Turney (5:09.78) and Riley Tapley (5:13.60).
With the result, the Aztecs raised their record to 12-0 in dual-meet competition this season, extending their winning streak to 62 consecutive victories. SDSU has not dropped a dual meet since falling to Colorado State, 153-147, on Jan. 8, 2018, a span of over six years.
As of Jan. 18, the Aztecs possess six of the best individual times in the Mountain West this season, along with three of the top relays (200 free relay, 400 free relay and 400 medley relay.
Reigning MW Swimmer of the Year Alex Roberts maintains the top spot in the 50 fly (24.80), 100 IM (55.29) and 200 back (1:53.45), the latter of which ranks 15th nationally entering the weekend.
Not to be outdone, Smithbaker is tied for 30th in the country in the 50 free (22.24) to go with a league-best effort in the 100 free (49.48), while Williams is slotted 35th nationally in the 200 breaststroke (2:10.79).
SDSU has emerged victorious in all 21 meetings vs. Pepperdine since 2001, including a 101-47 triumph in Malibu last October. The Aztecs captured all eight events on the day, winning both relays as well as a diving title to highlight a successful meet. Additionally, the Scarlet and Black recorded the top two scoring times in three different individual races and logged a trio of third-place finishes.
The Waves dropped a pair of decisions at Fresno State in their last two dual meets by scores of 123-44 and 144-114, Jan. 12-13, falling to 1-6 in head-to-head competition this season.
San Diego State sports an unblemished 14-0 overall record vs. LMU, including a 157-94 victory over the Lions as part of a quad meet at Aztec Aquaplex on Jan. 8, which also featured Alaska Fairbanks and Fresno State.
On that day, the Aztecs registered the fastest times in 11 of 14 swimming events and were awarded first-place points in nine of those races to cruise to the win.
Along with Smithbaker (50 free, 100 free), Nyiradi (200 free, 200 back) and McKenna (100 fly, 200 fly) were double winners for the day, while Williams (100 breast), Tapley (100 back), and Bergdahl (200 IM) also emerged triumphant in individual races.
Not to be outdone, diver Valentina Lopez Arevalo captured the 1- and 3-meter event titles in that meet. The SDSU junior is coming off a successful showing last weekend at the UCLA Bruin Diving Invitational, where she was the lone Aztec competitor to advance to the finals of all three events, capped by a second-place finish in the platform. Previously, the Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, native placed seventh on the 3-meter board and eighth in 1-meter action.
Other notables from the Bruin Diving Invite include Alina Skrocki and Summer Westmoreland, who finished 13th and 17th in the 3-meter event, respectively.
Lopez Arevalo has claimed nine event titles this season and has garnered two Mountain West Diver of the Week accolades, while Nyiradi has collected a trio of conference Freshman of the Week honors. Additionally, Smithbaker has been twice selected as MW Swimmer of the Week.
Following Friday's engagement, San Diego State will play host to the University of San Diego in its final dual meet of the regular season at Aztec Aquaplex on Friday, Jan. 26, starting at noon PT. Prior to their clash with the Toreros, the Aztecs will hold a special Senior Day ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of their 2024 graduating class.