Maria Saldivar

Women's Swimming & Diving January 30, 2021 Katie Rapp, NAU Athletic Communications

NAU Swimming and Diving Bests NMSU in Double Dual at Arizona, 172-125

TUCSON, Ariz. (January 30, 2021) – The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks finished up their first double dual meet of the 2020-21 season, competing against both the University of Arizona and New Mexico State University in Tucson, Ariz today.

While the Lumberjacks outscored the Aggies 172-125, Northern Arizona fell to Arizona 122-173.

"All in all, it was a really good day for us," head coach Andy Johns said. "We're really thankful for being able to race and want to thank U of A who put on a great meet and for their admin to support us in what we're doing here."

In the Lumberjack's overall successful day in southern Ariz., seniors Hope Williams and Maddie Seidl each had top times in two events.

As her first competition so far this year since swimming in the Blue & Gold intrasquad meet back in Oct., Williams completed her first event win in the 100 breaststroke, hitting the wall at 1:02.88. She secured her second top-time in the 200 breast, clocking in 2:21.52.

After Williams earned her win in the 100 breast, Seidl responded by recording top-finishes in both the 100 and 200 fly. In the 200, Seidl recorded a finals time of 2:01.42 and 55.28 in the 100.

Along with their two individual wins, the seniors helped push NAU to third overall (first to NMSU) in the 400 medley relay. Sophie Velitchkov, Williams, Seidl, and Annie Carlton awarded Northern Arizona its first points of the meet in the race, finishing in 3:50.74.

The Lumberjacks kept up appearances moving into the 1000 freestyle event. Finishing first and second respectively, Astrid Villeda (10:31.01) and Francesca Criscione (10:31.94), both swam faster than their counterparts.

With its multiple finishes, two of NAU's freshmen saw success against the Aggies and Wildcats as well. Caylah Jago and Kendall Carlson each marked lifetime-best times in separate events. Jago, in the 100 freestyle, placed third overall with 52.41. In the 100 back, Carlson hit the wall at 58.96, finishing sixth.

"It was good for us to compete one more time before heading to WAC Championships," Johns said.

On the other side of the pool, the Lumberjacks worked through a couple of kinks, including new dive entries.

"We were a little off today, but we had some new dives and those were really good to see," associate head diving coach Nikki Huffman said. "We have been working on fixing our mechanics recently."

Freshman Victoria Knapp, who qualified for NCAA Zones last weekend, placed third in both the 1 (251.45) and 3-meter (243.35) events. Maegan Jensen, another freshman who also earned qualifying scores in last week's meet, placed the highest out of the other divers with a second-place finish in the 3-meter tallying 256.20 points.

"If we clean up our entries, we will look really good," Huffman said. "I'm excited about where we are going."

While swimming is currently finished until the Western Athletic Conference Championships at the end of February, diving will look to host San Diego State for a two-day diving event, including the 1-meter, 3-meter, and platform dives on Feb. 5 and 6.

Women 1m Championship (6 dives)

Delaney Schnell (Arizona): 337.10
Gracie Sleeman (Arizona): 277.10
Victoria Knapp (NAU): 243.35
Alyssa Jones (NAU): 227.60
Italia Ane Aranzabal Del Pozo (NMSU): 226.70
Maegan Jensen (NAU): 212.70
Reaney Preston (NAU): 211.35
Emily Luberto (NAU): 168.65