Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
New Mexico
CSU falls to New Mexico in thrilling season opener
10/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
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FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- It came down to the final event, but the Colorado State swimming and diving squad fell to the New Mexico Lobos, 156-144, in the team's season-opening meet at Moby Pool on Thursday evening.
The Rams knew they needed to finish at least first, third and fourth in the 400 IM and then first and third in the 200 Freestyle to come from behind and beat the Lobos, and they nearly pulled it off.
Junior Allie Jacobs won the 400 IM (4:35.02), while Mackenzie Halligan took third and Gianna Salanitro placed fourth. Still trailing, but within a narrow enough margin to be able to win, the Rams entered the final event with hope for a victory. Ultimately, the Lobos top 200 Freestyle Relay squad would clinch the meet victory for the Lobos, with CSU's teams placing second and third in the event.
CSU's divers had a strong opening meet, with senior Ariana Milone winning in both the 1-Meter and 3-Meter events. Junior Emily Williams had a runner-up result in the 1-Meter while placing third in the 3-Meter.
The Rams got off to a good start to the meet. After Milone's win in the 3-Meter dive, CSU's 200 Medley Relay A team, consisting of Jess Shepard, Cristina Bassani, Carmen Mand and Katie Kicklighter, won the opening swimming event (1:45.48).
IN THEIR WORDS...
"I think there's plenty of potential. I don't think we've seen anywhere near our best. In fact, a lot of our top performers, they struggled a little bit. They swam well, but maybe not as well as they hoped." -- Head Coach Christopher Woodard
"The divers crushed like always. I always joke that it should be 'diving and swimming' instead of 'swimming and diving' because they do a lot of the heavy lifting for us." -- Head Coach Christopher Woodard on the strength of the diving side
STAT OF THE MEET...
290.55 -- Ariana Milone posted a score of 290.55 in the 1-Meter dive. Although she already holds the school record in the event (304.05), her score against New Mexico would rank third all-time at CSU.
NOTES...
• Sophomore Katie Kicklighter won the 100 Freestyle with a time of 52.34.
• Freshman Tonicia Thomas won the 200 Backstroke (2:05.07) in her first collegiate event. Jess Shepard took second in the event.
• CSU's A team needed to win the 200 Freestyle relay to secure the meet victory for the Rams, but finished 1.32 seconds behind the Lobos A squad.
NEXT UP:
CSU will head out to Grand Junction tomorrow for the Intermountain Shootout hosted by Colorado Mesa University. The two-day meet will conclude Saturday.
