AZTECS SWIM AND DIVE DOMINATES TOREROS ON SENIOR DAY

SDSU took home the top three finishes in all the meet's events; Lechuga sets new school/pool record in three-meter dive

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

January 24, 2020 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s swimming and diving team closed their 2019-20 home competition slate when they welcomed the University of San Diego Toreros to Aztec Aquaplex Friday. The Aztecs collected first place in all of the meet’s events, topping USD 153-128. Additionally, all seven Aztec divers earned scores on both the 1 and 3-meter dives to qualify them for the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships, scheduled for March 9-13 in Seattle, Wash.

SDSU started off the day with a dominating finish in the 200 medley relay, with the team of junior Elli Ferrin, junior Klara Thormalm, senior Courtney Vincent, and senior Alma Thormalm touching the wall in 1:41.52, more than five seconds faster than any other relay squad.

After losing her cap midway through the race, sophomore Mia Ryan earned the top mark in the 1000 freestyle, finishing in 10:34.59.  In her senior meet, McKenna Meyer topped the podium in the 200 free with her best mark of the season, finishing at 1:52.25. Alma Thormalm kicked off her individual efforts with a first-place finish in the 100 backstroke, recording a time of 55.62.

Klara Thormalm collected the first-place mark in the 100 breaststroke, finishing with a time of 1:01.41. Freshman Emily Gebhardt topped senior Kassidy Henson and fellow freshman Paige Mitchell in a tight race to take home the 200 butterfly title, touching the wall in 2:06.58. In the final event before the first break of the meet, sophomore Lizzie Menzmer topped the podium in the 50 free with a time of 23.93.

On the springboard, sophomore Ximenia Lechuga Gonzalez took home the 1-meter springboard title with a mark of 327.15. Senior Marie Yacopino earned second with a score of 294.38 and fellow senior Delaney Gallagher followed with 280.65 points to round out the podium finishers.  The Aztecs followed with an impressive set of 3-meter dives, led by Lechuga Gonzalez’s score of 383.03, setting a new school and pool record. All seven divers again earned scores to qualify for the Zone E Championships for the 3-meter competition, marking point totals of 285 or greater.

Alma Thormalm earned her second top finish of the day with a time of 51.28 in the 100 free. Freshman Riley Tapley made a statement with the top time in the 200 back, touching the wall in 2:05.42, more than two seconds faster than any other swimmer. Klara Thormalm earned a sweep of the breaststroke events with the top mark in the 200 breast, finishing at 2:15.05. Three Aztec swimmers fought hard in the 500 free race, with senior Kassidy Henson taking the top mark with a time of 5:07.86. Courtney Vincent shined in late-season form with a first-place finishing mark in the 100 fly, touching the wall in 53.31. In the final individual event of the meet, sophomore Kristina Murphy led the pace in the 200 IM, finishing first with a time of 2:05.68.

In the 400 free relay, a squad of seniors finished the meet strong for the Aztecs, as Courtney Vincent, Peyton Wilson, Alma Thormalm and McKenna Meyer topped the podium with a time of 3:26.64.

SDSU’s divers next hit the water Jan. 31-Feb. 1, competing in the NAU Diving Invitational #2 in Flagstaff, Ariz. The Aztecs’ swimmers now spend the next month preparing to defend the program’s Mountain West Championship, with the conference title chase set to start Feb. 19 and run through Feb. 22 in Minneapolis, Minn.

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