Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, November 7
Pullman, WA
5:00 PM
Colorado State
66
at
195
Washington State
Photo by: Washington State University
Rams Fall to Cougars in First Leg of Long Weekend
11/7/2025 7:31:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Whineray posts wins in both backstroke events
PULLMAN, Wash.  – Knowing it was going to be a long weekend with back-to-back duals on tap, Christopher Woodard's squad knew Friday would be the most challenging part due to travel and the team his Colorado State women's swimming team would be facing.
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Washington State, which has started the season hot paced by a pair of Mountain West two-event champions posted a 195-66 victory at Gibb Pool, a 14-event competition sans diving. The Cougars won 12 of those events (they've dropped just four races to start the season), with the Rams' Tess Whineray sweeping the two backstroke events.
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The Rams were swimming for the first time at sea level, then compounded that by wearing tech suits in the meet, leading to a host of season-bests for the team – more than 20 in all.
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"I think the biggest thing is we saw some breakthroughs from our secondary performers. Obviously, Tess is going to be the standout; Tess absolutely lit it up today," Woodard said. "But beyond that, I think it was Gabby Hall in the back and Evie Munz in the fly and Claire (Wright) and Ellie (Kennington) in the breaststroke. I think there were some good swims today, some season bests and close to PBs for some people.
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"That's always encouraging going into midseason. But I think this meet laid bare that we've got a whole lot of work still ahead of us."
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The Cougars opened the day by setting the first of four pool records, two of them coming via Darcy Revitt in winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, the two events she won at the Mountain West Championships last season. They also picked up two wins in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes from All-American Emily Lundgreen – the conference's first first-team All-American in the lanes since 2014, and she later added a victory in the 200 individual medley.
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It wasn't just the Cougars' front-end speed which made a difference, but their depth, finishing 1-2 or better in all 12 of their race wins. That didn't sit well with the team, despite traveling on the day of competition.
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"I mean, it was humbling to say the least. We had some people who didn't perform as well as they did just a month ago, unsuited at altitude," Woodard said. "So, I think we have to question, what's happening? Is it a mental confidence thing or are we just not prepared?
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"It was definitely noticeable, a long day of travel that they struggled pretty mightily, which is a lesson I should have learned after watching Colorado Mesa come to swim against us. That being said, you've got to perform no matter what, because honestly, we just don't know these days with travel, whether we're going to be on time, whether we're going to have potentially a long day of delays. I think we have to wrap our heads around like we can only control what we control. And that happens at our pool during our training. And it happens behind the blocks when we're supposed to be racing."
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Whineray did, posting season bests in both of her wins. She accepted a challenge in the 100 (53.47), pulling away for her win in the 200 backstroke (1:57.32). She had the Rams in front in the 200 medley relay to start the day until Lundgren hit the water in the second leg and changed the course of the race.
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Now a junior, Woodard has seen her accept the role she carries for the Rams.
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"I think Tess has always been a star on the team since the day she walked onto it," he said. "I think she's becoming more comfortable with really being the lead. You know, I don't think she sees it that way. I don't think she ever sees it that way. She uses a total team concept, but I think she recognizes more and more that she's going to be the lead out in a pool that her wins are kind of counted upon. I think at first, maybe that was a little daunting for her, but I think she's having fun racing right now. And I think she's embracing that."
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The Rams will turn around and race Saturday morning, facing Idaho in a dual in Moscow beginning at 11:30 p.m. (MT).
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Washington State, which has started the season hot paced by a pair of Mountain West two-event champions posted a 195-66 victory at Gibb Pool, a 14-event competition sans diving. The Cougars won 12 of those events (they've dropped just four races to start the season), with the Rams' Tess Whineray sweeping the two backstroke events.
Â
The Rams were swimming for the first time at sea level, then compounded that by wearing tech suits in the meet, leading to a host of season-bests for the team – more than 20 in all.
Â
"I think the biggest thing is we saw some breakthroughs from our secondary performers. Obviously, Tess is going to be the standout; Tess absolutely lit it up today," Woodard said. "But beyond that, I think it was Gabby Hall in the back and Evie Munz in the fly and Claire (Wright) and Ellie (Kennington) in the breaststroke. I think there were some good swims today, some season bests and close to PBs for some people.
Â
"That's always encouraging going into midseason. But I think this meet laid bare that we've got a whole lot of work still ahead of us."
Â
The Cougars opened the day by setting the first of four pool records, two of them coming via Darcy Revitt in winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, the two events she won at the Mountain West Championships last season. They also picked up two wins in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes from All-American Emily Lundgreen – the conference's first first-team All-American in the lanes since 2014, and she later added a victory in the 200 individual medley.
Â
It wasn't just the Cougars' front-end speed which made a difference, but their depth, finishing 1-2 or better in all 12 of their race wins. That didn't sit well with the team, despite traveling on the day of competition.
Â
"I mean, it was humbling to say the least. We had some people who didn't perform as well as they did just a month ago, unsuited at altitude," Woodard said. "So, I think we have to question, what's happening? Is it a mental confidence thing or are we just not prepared?
Â
"It was definitely noticeable, a long day of travel that they struggled pretty mightily, which is a lesson I should have learned after watching Colorado Mesa come to swim against us. That being said, you've got to perform no matter what, because honestly, we just don't know these days with travel, whether we're going to be on time, whether we're going to have potentially a long day of delays. I think we have to wrap our heads around like we can only control what we control. And that happens at our pool during our training. And it happens behind the blocks when we're supposed to be racing."
Â
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Whineray did, posting season bests in both of her wins. She accepted a challenge in the 100 (53.47), pulling away for her win in the 200 backstroke (1:57.32). She had the Rams in front in the 200 medley relay to start the day until Lundgren hit the water in the second leg and changed the course of the race.
Â
Now a junior, Woodard has seen her accept the role she carries for the Rams.
Â
"I think Tess has always been a star on the team since the day she walked onto it," he said. "I think she's becoming more comfortable with really being the lead. You know, I don't think she sees it that way. I don't think she ever sees it that way. She uses a total team concept, but I think she recognizes more and more that she's going to be the lead out in a pool that her wins are kind of counted upon. I think at first, maybe that was a little daunting for her, but I think she's having fun racing right now. And I think she's embracing that."
Â
The Rams will turn around and race Saturday morning, facing Idaho in a dual in Moscow beginning at 11:30 p.m. (MT).
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Players Mentioned
BK, FL, FR
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, FLY
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BK
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