Aztec Swim & Dive Breezes Past Pepperdine, 95-52

MALIBU, Calif. – The San Diego State swim and dive team continued its supremacy in dual-meet action on Thursday with a 95-52 decision over Pepperdine at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

With the win, the Aztecs logged their 68th consecutive dual-meet victory since Jan. 8, 2018, maintaining their spotless record against the Waves with a 23-0 mark, including a 14-0 ledger in Malibu.

SDSU captured all seven swimming events, including two relays, while winning a diving title to punctuate another dominating performance. In addition, the Aztecs recorded the top five fastest times in two individual races and featured three top four swims in three other events.

The Scarlet and Black established itself from the very beginning with a victory in the 200 medley relay, as the team of Abby Storm, Moa Bergdahl, Reka Nyiradi and Kaydence Bispo combined for a winning time of 1:44.23, while the foursome of Liv Peebles, Meredith Smithbaker, Alli Mann and Eva Allan placed second with a 1:45.64 clocking, which was ultimately deemed an exhibition.

The Aztecs’ depth was exemplary in the 50 butterfly, where Storm emerged victorious after touching the wall at 25.96, while Mai Kenna (26.05) and Peebles (26.39) occupied the next two scoring spots. Not to be outdone, Emily Tenczar posted the third-best time in the event at 26.31, while Charlotte Sevin logged the fifth-best swim of the race at 26.49, with both results counting as exhibitions.

Shortly thereafter, Alex Downing snared the individual crown in the 50 backstroke after completing the race at 27.19, while the trio of Nyiradi (2nd, 27.67), Grace Mering (4th, 28.25) and Sevin (5th, 28.31) also registered three of the fastest times of the event but were scored as exhibitions.

Later in the 50 breaststroke, Christiana Williams added to SDSU’s win total with a victorious time of 29.69, while Elisa Branca (2nd, 30.68) and Bispo (4th, 31.37) additionally placed among the top four; however, their performances were considered exhibitions.

Likewise in the 50 freestyle, Smithbaker emerged triumphant after touching the wall at 23.39, edging Mann (2nd, 23.57), Peebles (4th, 24.60) and Allan (5th, 24.67) whose swims were also scored as exhibitions.

The Aztecs kept the momentum rolling in the 100 individual medley after claiming the top three scoring positions, featuring McKenna (58.19), Williams (59.20) and Mering (1:01.23). Not to be outdone, Nyiradi (58.59), Bergdahl (59.56) and Branca (1:00.61) impressed in the event as well, with their results counting as exhibitions as well.

Fittingly, the Scarlet and Black kept its foot on the proverbial accelerator, as the team of Bispo, Storm, Mann and Allan joined forces for a victory in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:37.00, while the quartet of Downing, Tenczar, Elsa Fullerton and Branca took fourth at 1:41.66.

A trio of divers saw their first competition of the 2024-25 campaign on Thursday, as Summer Westmoreland emerged triumphant on the 1-meter springboard with 245.58 points, while Olivia Zamudio (217.43) was third, followed by Keira Kuderka (198.90), who took seventh.

San Diego State resumes its busy schedule this weekend, when it travels to the Central Valley for the annual Fresno State Invitational, Oct. 4-5, in Fresno, California. Along with the host Bulldogs, the Aztecs will compete against UCLA, Washington State, San José State and Hawai’i (dive only).