FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 14, 2018) – The Northern Arizona Swimming and Diving team will be hosting the Lumberjack Invite this weekend. The swimming team will hold their invite from Friday, Nov. 16 to Sunday, Nov. 17 while the diving team's invite will be from Friday, Nov. 16 to Sunday, Nov. 18.
"The Lumberjack Invite is not a typical invite that teams will go to in the fall, but it is an opportunity to get some rest and try to swim fast," NAU head swimming coach
Andy Johns said. "It will be a good opportunity to see some of the girls focus on some individual events that they would usually not be able to during a dual meet."
LAST TIME OUT
The Lumberjacks were last in the pool and on the boards on Nov. 3 in Moscow, Idaho where the team participated in a double dual meet against the University of Idaho and Seattle University. NAU picked up its first two wins on the 2018-19 season in this meet. The 'Jacks beat the Redhawks, 246-44, while beating the Vandals by just eight points, 154-146.
On the diving side, the three performers for Northern Arizona in the dual meet,
Christina Torrente,
Emily Sharrer and
Alyssa Jones all put up impressive scores leading to all three qualifying for the Zone Diving meet in March. Torrente, in particular, had a great day as she took first place in both the 3-meter and 1-meter events while scoring a personal best 342.25 in the 3-meter. The two wins now give Torrente three on the year in just four events.
Between the lanes, the Lumberjack swimmers picked up a season-high eight event wins in the dual meet. A significant component of NAU's success came from the two exceptional freestylers
Monique King and
Elisa Rodriguez, who both picked up two individual wins in the dual meet. King did her damage in the 500 and the 1000 freestyle whereas Rodriguez did hers in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
Also on the swimming side,
Hope Williams and
Andrea Schmidt had fantastic meets as they both picked up individual wins in their events. The victories marked the second win for each swimmer on the year.
"King, Rodriguez and Williams have really been leading the way for us, but we have been getting solid contributions from everyone," Johns said.
MATCHUPS
Both New Mexico State and Arizona Christian will be coming to Flagstaff for the Swimming Invite.
Northern Arizona has had great success over New Mexico State, as the Lumberjacks hold an all-time record of 27-5. The 'Jacks lost to the Aggies in the 2017-18 season, but previously were riding a six-meet winning streak. New Mexico State has started off the season on a rough note as it is 1-3 on the season. Its lone win came over CSU Pueblo on Oct. 20.
Unlike the long history that the Lumberjacks and New Mexico State have, this will be the first-ever regular season meet between Northern Arizona and Arizona Christian University. The Phoenix are currently 1-0 on the season with a win over the Grand Canyon Club.
The teams that will be making the trip to Flagstaff for the Diving invite to compete against Northern Arizona will be New Mexico State, Arizona and Idaho.
The 'Jacks will be facing Idaho for the second time this season. Northern Arizona took first place in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events in their previous meet on Nov. 3.
Arizona will also be sending its male divers to Northern Arizona to face-off against Air Force in the Lumberjack Invite.
