Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, December 5
Greensboro, N.C.
7 AM/4PM
Colorado State
vs
U.S. Open
Five Rams Take Crack at U.S. Open
12/3/2024 3:23:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Opportunity awaits group of CSU qualifiers
FORT COLLINS  – If you earn a chance, take your best shot.
Â
That's the approach Colorado State women's swimming and diving coach Christopher Woodard wants to arm a group of his five swimmers with as they travel to Greensboro, N.C., for the 2024 Toyota U.S. Open which runs Dec. 4-7 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
Â
"You're sending a message not about your own ability heading into conference, but the rest of the team. These are the expectations, this is where you should want to be," CSU coach Christopher Woodard said. "Once we get there, there's no deer-in-the-headlights. It's about performance."
Â
Erin Dawson, Skylar Lyon, Lexie Trietley, Tess Whineray and Maya White will represent Colorado State at the meet, which required qualifying times for the short-course yardage meet. The Rams will not race until Thursday, when their individual events begin with Dawson and White in the 500-yard freestyle at 7 a.m. MT.
Â
Year to year, it's a mix of who will or will not participate from the Olympic and professional level. Regardless, the field will be elite. That's the draw for this group, and those in the future. Reach those heights, see the competition.
Â
"I think this was a unique opportunity. In a typical season, we might only have a couple of kids who qualify for the U.S. Open meet, but now we have a crew of five. The drive for us is to send a message to whoever we're recruiting, as well as the rest of the team, this is where you want to be. We want the elite of the elite, and we want to give them these experiences. If you're an elite-level athlete, and you pour your heart and soul into it, we're going to take you to the biggest meets."
Â
At the Hawkeye Invitational, the Rams hit five NCAA B cuts as a team, with Whineray hitting a pair, White and Dawson one each. At this meet, with a bit more rest during the holiday break, the goal is to improve those times against a fast field. White currently ranks 57th national in the 1,650 freestyle, Whineray 76th in the 200 back, 78th in the 100 back.
Â
They will compete in all of those events, with White carrying the top seed into the 1,650 freestyle. Dawson is a top-five seed in both the 500 free (fifth) and 400 individual medley (third), with Whineray seeded sixth in the 200 back.
Â
Trietley will compete in the 50 free on Thursday. Friday is the busiest day for the squad as Dawson and White are both in the 400 IM, Dawson doubles up with the 200 free, Lyon has the 100 breaststroke and Whineray the 100 back. White (1,650 free), Whineray (200 back) and Trietley compete on Saturday (100 free).
Â
Results will be posted at the end of each day's finals, which feature the top 16 swimmers from the morning preliminaries. Racing begins each day at 7 a.m.; finals start at 4 p.m.
Â
Â
That's the approach Colorado State women's swimming and diving coach Christopher Woodard wants to arm a group of his five swimmers with as they travel to Greensboro, N.C., for the 2024 Toyota U.S. Open which runs Dec. 4-7 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
Â
"You're sending a message not about your own ability heading into conference, but the rest of the team. These are the expectations, this is where you should want to be," CSU coach Christopher Woodard said. "Once we get there, there's no deer-in-the-headlights. It's about performance."
Â
Erin Dawson, Skylar Lyon, Lexie Trietley, Tess Whineray and Maya White will represent Colorado State at the meet, which required qualifying times for the short-course yardage meet. The Rams will not race until Thursday, when their individual events begin with Dawson and White in the 500-yard freestyle at 7 a.m. MT.
Â
Year to year, it's a mix of who will or will not participate from the Olympic and professional level. Regardless, the field will be elite. That's the draw for this group, and those in the future. Reach those heights, see the competition.
Â
"I think this was a unique opportunity. In a typical season, we might only have a couple of kids who qualify for the U.S. Open meet, but now we have a crew of five. The drive for us is to send a message to whoever we're recruiting, as well as the rest of the team, this is where you want to be. We want the elite of the elite, and we want to give them these experiences. If you're an elite-level athlete, and you pour your heart and soul into it, we're going to take you to the biggest meets."
Â
At the Hawkeye Invitational, the Rams hit five NCAA B cuts as a team, with Whineray hitting a pair, White and Dawson one each. At this meet, with a bit more rest during the holiday break, the goal is to improve those times against a fast field. White currently ranks 57th national in the 1,650 freestyle, Whineray 76th in the 200 back, 78th in the 100 back.
Â
They will compete in all of those events, with White carrying the top seed into the 1,650 freestyle. Dawson is a top-five seed in both the 500 free (fifth) and 400 individual medley (third), with Whineray seeded sixth in the 200 back.
Â
Trietley will compete in the 50 free on Thursday. Friday is the busiest day for the squad as Dawson and White are both in the 400 IM, Dawson doubles up with the 200 free, Lyon has the 100 breaststroke and Whineray the 100 back. White (1,650 free), Whineray (200 back) and Trietley compete on Saturday (100 free).
Â
Results will be posted at the end of each day's finals, which feature the top 16 swimmers from the morning preliminaries. Racing begins each day at 7 a.m.; finals start at 4 p.m.
Â
Follow us at -- Twitter: @CSUSwimDive | Instagram: @csuswimdive | Facebook: @CSUSwimDive
Â
- STALWART -
Â
- STALWART -
Players Mentioned
FR, FLY, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BK
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, BR IM
/ Women's Swimming & DivingCSU Swim & Dive: 2025-26 Preseason Press Conference
Monday, September 29
21-22 Swimming Schedule Video
Monday, August 16
Colorado State Swim & Dive: Erin Popovich Speaks To Team About Confidence
Monday, November 18
Colorado State Swimming: Erin Popovich Visit
Monday, November 18