Aztec Swimmers Sink Toreros in Crosstown Dual Meet

 

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State swimmers continued their winning ways on Friday with a 71-43 victory over the University of San Diego in dual-meet competition at Aztec Aquaplex.

The Aztecs recorded at least the top four fastest times in five of the six scheduled events, winning four, to defeat the Toreros for the second time in two weeks. Additionally, the Scarlet and Black has emerged triumphant in 36 consecutive meetings against their crosstown adversaries dating back to the 2000-01 campaign.

In a meet featuring extended distances, five different SDSU swimmers captured individual titles or logged event-fastest times on Friday, including senior Meredith Smithbaker, who set the tone with a victorious swim of 1:20.95 in the 150 freestyle, while freshmen Kaydence Bispo (1:20.95) and Eva Allan (1:24.14) grabbed the next two spots, followed by senior Summer West (1:25.10).

Smithbaker later contributed to SDSU’s point-total with a scored fourth-place finish in the 400 freestyle where she touched the wall at 4:15.92.

“I’m really proud of the way Meredith competed today,” said Aztec head coach Mike Shrader. She did a phenomenal job in two races, including a seasonal best in one of her primary events. We’re extremely blessed having Meredith on our team.”

SDSU enjoyed greater success with the top six finishers in the 150 butterfly, led by freshman Alli Mann, who clocked in with a winning effort of 1:28.41, while senior Mai McKenna was slotted second at 1:29.65, followed by sophomore Charlotte Sevin (1:30.22), junior Emily Tenczar (1:31.12), senior Wilma Johansson (1:31.39) and freshman Alex Downing (1:34.22).

The Aztecs also showcased their remarkable depth with the top five swimmers in the 150 backstroke, featuring Reka Nyiradi’s victorious time of 1:27.93, while freshmen Liv Peebles (1:28.68) and Grace Mering (1:32.74) impressed with second- and third-place efforts, respectively, followed by junior Abby Storm (1:34.32), who took fourth ahead of freshman Alex Downing (1:36.48).

Despite racing just two competitors, SDSU maintained its momentum in the 150 breaststroke where senior Christiana Williams claimed with top prize after touching the wall at 1:40.30, edging junior Moa Bergdahl, who clocked in at 1:40.97.

With the Scarlet and Black comfortably ahead on the team scoreboard, most of San Diego State’s results in the final two events were deemed exhibitions.

Nyiradi outpaced the field in the 400 freestyle after completing the race at 3:57.65, while Mann (4:00.90) was a distant second, followed by Allan (4:04.96) and Bispo (4:04.86).

Fittingly, the Aztecs closed out the day with another dominating performance in the 300 individual medley, as McKenna led a deep contingent that recorded the five fastest times in the event. The senior McKenna bested the competition with a time of 3:14.92, while Peebles (3:19.39) was slotted second ahead of Mering (3:20.13) and Bergdahl (3:20.35), who duked it out for third, followed by West’s fifth-place swim of 3:24.20).

San Diego State embarks on a busy road trip next week, traveling up the coast to Malibu for a dual meet against Pepperdine on Oct. 3, before continuing north to the Central Valley for the two-day Fresno State Invitational, Oct. 4-5, in Fresno, California.