Rams Dive Into Deep Pool To Open Season

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FRESNO, Calif. – The season started under bright sunlight Friday and finished under the lights, a unique setting for Colorado State's women's swimming and diving team at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational hosted by Fresno State.

The meet's lineup provided top-flight competition for the Rams' first time out, with Pac-12 schools Cal, UCLA and Washington State in attendance, as well as San Diego State and San Jose State joining the hosts. Each race's heats were timed finals, with the scoring for the top 16 in individual races. By the end of the day, the swimmers were swimming outside and under the lights, a unique experience.

"What a great way to start the season, with a new experience racing some of the best of the West," CSU head coach Woody Woodard said. "They were excited to swim outdoors for the first time in a few years, I think back in 2020 at Pepperdine."

Always looking to build depth to the lineup, the Rams had a pair of swimmers step to the forefront on the day, one a returner from a season ago, the other one of the team's newest additions.

Colorado State's best finish of the day was fifth, nailed down twice, once in each session. In the morning, freshman Alexis Trietley did in the 50-yard freestyle, coming in at 23.11. In the evening set, Erin Dawson was fifth in the 400 individual medley in a time of 4:24.56. After struggling with injury and illness in her debut campaign a year ago, the time represented a drop of 19.37 seconds.

"I was optimistic before, but Erin's trajectory has us all excited," Woodard said. "Lexi knows how to race, but we will continue to focus on her technical growth and mental toughness."

Colorado State had a host of other placers throughout the day. In the morning session, the Rams built the bulk of their points from a pair of relays, with the 200-yard freestyle team touching fifth in a time of 1:34.96, while the 200 medley team finished seventh in 1:44.93. Anika Johnson and Alexis Trietley were on both squads, joined by Megan Hager and Azalea Shepherd for the free, Lucy Mathewson and Katie McClelland in the medley.

Johnson had her best individual placing in her top event, the 200 freestyle as she finished 10^th in a time of 1:52.57; Matheson placed 15^th in a time of 1:53.81. Johnson and Maya White both placed in the 500 free at 11^th and 12^th, respectively. Johnson touched in 5:04.95, White in 5:05.99.

In the 100 breast, McClelland placed 13^th in a time of 1:04.40, just .36 off last year's season best. Lunina placed 16^th in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.74. The team closed their day with a sixth-place showing in the 800 free relay, with the foursome of Johnson, Hager, Shepherd and Lucy Matheson posting a time of 7:37.59. Colorado State finished the day with 164 points, sitting in seventh.

Saturday's lone session begins at 11 a.m. MT.

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Players Mentioned

Erin Dawson

Katie Flynn

Megan Hager

Anika Johnson

Lucy Matheson

Azalea Shepherd

Lexie Trietley

Maya White