Aztecs Prep for Two Meets This Weekend

 

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State swim and dive program resumes its busy early-season schedule this weekend when it travels up the coast to face Pepperdine in a dual meet on Thursday, Oct. 3, before continuing north to the Central Valley for the Fresno State Invitational, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, in Fresno, California.

The Aztecs will square off against the Waves at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool in Malibu, California, beginning at 10:30 a.m. PT, in the first of two head-to-head meetings between the schools this season. Pepperdine will travel to "America's Finest City" for the rematch in a double dual meet with New Mexico on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

Admission to Thursday’s meet is free, and because of limited bleacher seating, fans may choose to bring a blanket or chair to sit on the hillside. 

SDSU has emerged triumphant in all 22 encounters with the Waves since 2001, including a 101-47 triumph in Malibu last season. 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 posted the top two scoring times in three different individual races and logged a trio of third-place finishes.

The Aztecs are coming off a 71-43 victory over the University of San Diego at Aztec Aquaplex on Sept. 27. In a meet featuring modified distances, SDSU showcased its tremendous depth, recording at least the top four fastest times in five of the six scheduled races, 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.

Meanwhile, San Diego State will battle UCLA, along with conference foes San José State, Washington State and the host Bulldogs at the Fresno State Invitational, while Hawai’i is set to compete in diving events only. WSU’s swimming program has joined the Mountain West as an affiliate member for the next two seasons.

Friday's action at the Fresno State Aquatics Center gets underway at 11 a.m. PT, with a second session to follow at 6 p.m., while Saturday's competition begins at 10 a.m. Heats will be timed finals, and a link to live results and streaming video will be available on GoAztecs.com.

“We look forward to the Fresno State Invite every year,” said Aztec associate head coach Joe Spahn. “It's a great opportunity to get an early look at some Mountain West schools and swim against some Power 5 competition. Our girls have traditionally swam very well at Fresno.”

SDSU has finished second in all seven previous appearances at the Fresno State Invite since 2016. Last year, the Aztecs secured the runner-up position with a two-day total of 857 points, trailing only UCLA's tally of 1,207 points, while Washington State (766 pts) took third, followed by Fresno State (535 pts) and San José State (438 pts).

Following that meet, the Aztecs swept all three conference weekly honors, as Meredith Smithbaker garnered Mountain West Swimmer of the Week accolades and Valentina Lopez Arevalo received Diver of the Week distinction, joining Reka Nyiradi, who earned her second straight Freshman of the Week honor.

Smithbaker posted three individual top-five finishes at the Fresno State Invite, highlighted by a victory in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.06. The Fort Collins, Colorado, native also placed third and fifth in the 100 freestyle (51.04) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.40), respectively.

Meanwhile, Nyiradi recorded four top-six individual placements, featuring a fourth-place swim of 2:02.99 in the 200 fly, which was the top MW effort in that event. She also contributed to a pair of fourth-place relay teams, leading off the Aztecs' 800 free relay (7:34.05) before swimming the butterfly segment of SDSU's 400 medley relay (3:46.81).

Not to be outdone, Lopez Arevalo was victorious in the 3-meter springboard with 312.80 points, surpassing a NCAA Zone qualifying score. She also finished fourth on the 1-meter board with 254.80 pts, which represented the top score among 12 conference competitors in the event.

Following this weekend's events, San Diego State will head to the Last Frontier to battle the Alaska Nanooks in a pair of dual meets on consecutive days, Oct. 11-12, at Patty Center Pool in Fairbanks, Alaska.