Colorado State University Athletics
Meet notes: CSU set for Phill Hansel Invite
11/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
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CSU SET FOR PHILL HANSEL INVITE
The Colorado State Rams will participate in their first multi-team meet of the year as they head to Houston for the three-day Phill Hansel Invite, hosted by Houston. The meet starts tomorrow.
CSU and hosts Houston will be joined by UC Davis, Idaho, New Mexico, New Mexico State, North Texas, Rice, Tulane and Vanderbilt.
CSU has had a two-week break from competition after opening the season with three dual meets in three weeks. The Rams own a 2-1 record in dual meets, winning both events held at Moby Pool.
"We told them when they came out of those three dual meets, that when we got to the next two weeks, it was going to be strictly about training and prep for this event," Head Coach Woody Woodard said in regards to his team's two-week preparation. "The energy might not be high towards every single weekend, knowing you had someone to compete against. We had to keep the energy high. We're pushing each other so we are in a good situation so that when we arrive in Houston. There is maybe a little bit more intensity during these two weeks."
The Rams will close out 2016 with a tri-meet in Albuquerque, N.M., against a pair of league foes - New Mexico and Air Force - on Dec. 3.
WOODY's WORDS
(on how optimistic he is going into the event)
"We are going to see a lot of the same teams (from last year's Phill Hansel) as well as new teams. It is always hard to say because I don't know what they are going to bring to the table. I know where we are. We're there to compete. It's not just about qualifying times or seeding for conference. I treat it like a dual meet. We are there to climb the ranks. They (swimmers) should be looking at the scoreboards and leader boards. That is the type of attitude I want them to have at conference."
(on the team's attitude going into the meet)
"It's tough because we won't be taking our full squad. It is hard to be down nine swimmers. That is never ideal. It is more incumbent upon the 20 swimmers we do take to really circle the wagons and create a lot more energy. I think that part is unique, but it isn't anything we really have to supercharge them for. They know what they are there for. They are all chomping at the bit to get out of altitude and put up some times."
(on where the team is now compared to last year going into Phil Hansel)
"Phil Hansel last year was a great meet for us. It helped us a lot because we had struggled a little bit in the fall. We came out of that meet optimistic about the team. We aren't in that situation. I think we feel good about the team right now. The expectation is, let's see what we got, and let's give them a dogfight. Let's climb the ranks, score some points, and put up some times. Our divers are throwing in some new dives into their lists as well. I think it's more now about pushing our boundaries."
REWIND: CSU FIFTH AT 2015 PHILL HANSEL INVITE
CSU took fifth out of 10 squads at last year's Phill Hansel Invite. The Rams leapfrogged Oregon State late on the final day to move into fifth 4.5 points. Mackenzie Halligan starred for the Rams, totaling 65 points. Carmen Mand and Jenna Beaury each contributed more than 60 points each, with Beaury posting an NCAA B Cut time in the 200 Breast (2:15.16).
HOW RAMS RANK IN MW
Multiple Rams swimmers rank favorably when compared to other competitors within the Mountain West Conference. Sophomore Haley Rowley has the top mark in the 200 Back (2:02.17) and the second best time in the 1000 Free (10:22.46). Tonicia Thomas also has a No. 2 time, in the 100 Back (56.4). Katie Kicklighter has the fourth best time in the 50 Free (23.9), while Rowan Hauber holds a pair of fifth-best times in the 100 Back (56.78) and 200 Back (2:03.50). CSU's top-ranking relay is the 400 Free (3:30.50), which ranks fourth (Kicklighter, Carmen Mand, Hauber, Teagan Griffith).
ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNEES
The Rams 2016-17 roster will feature three athletes who earned all-conference recognition at the 2016 Mountain West Championships. Senior Jenna Beaury will have high expectations entering 2016-17 as she earned an NCAA B Cut time int he 200 breast last season, and earned All-MW honors in both the 100 and 200 breast. Two sophomores on the roster earned All-MW honors as freshmen a year ago - Mackenzie Halligan (400 IM) and Ida Donohue (1,650 free).
NUMEROUS RAMS RECEIVE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE RECOGNITION
Nine members of the 2015-16 CSU swimming & diving squad received Scholar-Athlete recognition from the Mountain West over the summer.
Cristina Bassani, Katie Kicklighter, Kelsey Lawton, Megan Lloyd, Carmen Mand, Elizabeth Prasse, Gianna Salanitro, Nina Stitt and Emily Williams all received the honor. The nine student-athletes represented seven different majors. Swimming & diving had the most athletes honored aside from the track & field and cross country programs.
Players Mentioned
