FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 24, 2020) – On the first day against Boise State University, Northern Arizona's swimming and diving took a loss of 56-73 after competing in eight events: the 3-meter dive, 400 medley relay, 100 individual medley, 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, and the 800 freestyle.
"It was a very exciting meet for us," assistant coach
Larry Liebowitz said. "They really stepped up and swam fast with a lot of people having best times of the year."
On the board,
Jenny Cheetham,
Emily Luberto, and
Emily Sharrer all dove on the 3-meter today for the Lumberjacks, sweeping first, second and third. Cheetham earned another qualifying score of 290.85, whereas Luberto (272.85) and Sharrer (268.28) fell just slightly short. Although she might not have qualified today, Luberto recorded a new best 3-meter finals score. The scores from today's dive will count towards the 'Jacks combined score tomorrow.
"It's awesome that we went first, second, and third," head diving coach
Nikki Huffman said. "Jenny was really consistent today, so that was great for her.
Emily Luberto earned her personal best today, just missing qualifying scores, and was really the shining star."
In the pool with a tight race for first, NAU's 400 relay team of
Sarah O'Connor,
Hope Williams,
Maddie Seidl and
Elisa Rodriguez placed second in the race, completing it with a time of 3:44.48. Boise got their leg up early on after winning first (3:44.17) and third (3:48.99) in the 400 medley relay.
Although the 'Jacks swam in some familiar events, many were events competed not only for the first time this season, but also in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex, breaking new personal records and pool records, like Liebowitz said.
In the 100 IM,
Niamh McDonagh,
Haley Mayhew, and
Katy Smith switched the lead over to the 'Jacks after sweeping first, second, and third, respectively. McDonagh now holds the fastest time and new pool record time of 58.11 in the 100 IM for Northern Arizona.
Hope Williams now holds the fastest time after taking first place in the 50 breaststroke, after completing her race in 28.95.
Clara Foster ended in fourth, 30.70.
Swimming in the 50 fly,
Maddie Seidl now holds the top time of 25.44 with
Lauren Hazel behind her with a time of 26.20. Seidl placed second in the race against Boise while Hazel took fifth.
Other swimmers found new season bests in more familiar events. Both Rodriguez and
Lainie Bell bettered their speed in the 50 freestyle, taking first and third, respectively. Rodriguez's previous time of 23.47, found on Nov. 1, 2019, is replaced today's 23.25 time. Bell found her time of 24.19 more recently on Jan. 3, 2020, now sits just behind Rodriguez at 23.90. In the 50 yard backstroke,
Teresa Cobb also recorded a new season time of 29.33, besting her previous record, 29.70 from a meet on Nov. 23, 2019.
Not only that, but three swimmers automatically qualified for the CSCAA National Invitational Championship for their times tonight: McDonagh, Williams, and Seidl. The NIC takes place March 12-14 in Cleveland, Ohio.
"It's going to be a really tough meet tomorrow," Liebowitz said.
Northern Arizona will run a 16 event meet tomorrow against Boise State beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex. The meet will include the 200 medley relay, 200 IM, and 400 free relay. Diving will be taking on the 1-meter boards and running exhibition dives on the platform.
Beginning at the second break (approx. 11:50 a.m.), Northern Arizona will honor its four seniors graduating this May,
Erin Spielman,
Kate Bier,
Fernanda Montiel and
Alice Hick for their accomplishments as Lumberjacks.
