Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, October 19
USAFA, Colo. / USAFA Natatorium
1:30 p.m. MT
Colorado State
at
Air Force
Rams Face MW Foe Air Force as Part of Double Dual
10/17/2019 2:00:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Northern Arizona also in attendance at the Academy
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Heading into the second meet of the season, Colorado State's women's swimming and diving team will double up Saturday as the Rams pick up their first taste of Mountain West competition.
CSU will face Air Force and Northern Arizona on Saturday at the USAFA Natatorium, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Rams are coming off a loss to Denver in their first meet, and while coach Christopher Woodard is focused on improving aspects of the performance, he understands his team needs to be prepared for the quirks of Saturday.
"There are a couple of unique things. We don't often get to swim a 13-event format, so it takes the 200 of the strokes out and it puts more emphasis on each individual swim, because they're only allowed three instead of four," Woodard said. "Being it's a double dual, we're also going to have two heats, so that becomes a little bit more unique. You're not just racing against yourself, you're racing against the other heat, as well."
The third item is well documented on the natatorium wall – the swimmers will be competing at higher than 7,200 feet of elevation. Not only do the Falcons train at the altitude, so do the Lumberjacks.
Woodard said it is mentioned, but not stressed, as even though the Rams train at altitude, there are differences they have to be mentally prepared to face.
"What we do here is try to train them so they can swim in those situations, whether it's breath control or a certain number of kicks under water, or doing an endurance set the week of a tough meet like this," he said. "We have to do those things so they don't have that moment of panic in the back half of a race."
For the second week, the lineup will have to show some versatility with top breaststrokers Maddie Ward and Grace Siebmann out of the lineup. They Rams also compete in the 200-yard freestyle and medley relays for the second consecutive meet – also unique this early – which Woodard said puts a bit more exposure on the sprinters than the mid-distance swimmers. He also wants to see the intensity build on deck facing a rival in Air Force and a NAU squad annually atop the Western Athletic Conference standings. The Falcons are 1-1 in duals this season, and will come off a meet the night before when they host Wyoming. The Lumberjacks will also compete the night before, at Greeley against Northern Colorado in their first official meet of the year.
Kristina Friedrichs posted the Rams' lone victory against Denver (the 200 free) in the lanes, while divers Rachel Holland (1-meter) and Skylar Williams (3-meter) are coming off wins.
CSU will face Air Force and Northern Arizona on Saturday at the USAFA Natatorium, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Rams are coming off a loss to Denver in their first meet, and while coach Christopher Woodard is focused on improving aspects of the performance, he understands his team needs to be prepared for the quirks of Saturday.
"There are a couple of unique things. We don't often get to swim a 13-event format, so it takes the 200 of the strokes out and it puts more emphasis on each individual swim, because they're only allowed three instead of four," Woodard said. "Being it's a double dual, we're also going to have two heats, so that becomes a little bit more unique. You're not just racing against yourself, you're racing against the other heat, as well."
The third item is well documented on the natatorium wall – the swimmers will be competing at higher than 7,200 feet of elevation. Not only do the Falcons train at the altitude, so do the Lumberjacks.
Woodard said it is mentioned, but not stressed, as even though the Rams train at altitude, there are differences they have to be mentally prepared to face.
"What we do here is try to train them so they can swim in those situations, whether it's breath control or a certain number of kicks under water, or doing an endurance set the week of a tough meet like this," he said. "We have to do those things so they don't have that moment of panic in the back half of a race."
For the second week, the lineup will have to show some versatility with top breaststrokers Maddie Ward and Grace Siebmann out of the lineup. They Rams also compete in the 200-yard freestyle and medley relays for the second consecutive meet – also unique this early – which Woodard said puts a bit more exposure on the sprinters than the mid-distance swimmers. He also wants to see the intensity build on deck facing a rival in Air Force and a NAU squad annually atop the Western Athletic Conference standings. The Falcons are 1-1 in duals this season, and will come off a meet the night before when they host Wyoming. The Lumberjacks will also compete the night before, at Greeley against Northern Colorado in their first official meet of the year.
Kristina Friedrichs posted the Rams' lone victory against Denver (the 200 free) in the lanes, while divers Rachel Holland (1-meter) and Skylar Williams (3-meter) are coming off wins.
Players Mentioned
FREE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
DIVE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BREAST
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BREAST, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
DIVE
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