The Colorado State Rams swimming & diving squad will visit Denver for its second dual meet of the season on Saturday at 12 p.m.
The meet is the first away from home for the Rams after defeating Omaha at Moby Pool on Oct. 14.
“I think it is (helpful) from the simple standpoint of I don’t worry so much about the travel,” Head Coach Woody Woodard said. “I mean it’s nice to be able to go down to Denver and get back in the same day. It keeps the kids focused on their academics. It doesn’t allow them that excuse of having to bring books into the hotel. But more than anything else, we have so many kids who are Colorado kids. It gives them an opportunity that they get to perform in a different pool, but they still have a lot of friends and family who are here.”
CSU will return to Fort Collins to host Idaho on Friday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m., for its final home meet of 2016. The Rams will then head to Houston for the Phil Hansel Invite, before facing Air Force and New Mexico in Albuquerque on Dec. 3.
CSU is 7-8 all-time against Denver, including a home loss to the Pioneers last October.
WOODY’s WORDS
On what the most important thing the team took from Friday…
“I think anytime you have a bunch of newcomers, and obviously we had nine newcomers, is their integration into the team concept. I think overall our team was incredibly supportive, whether it was somebody just stepping on deck in their first college race, or whether it was a vet that had been here for three years plus. Everyone was really on the same page. They were supporting each other. They were giving each other tips. That’s the kind of thing that I want to see and that’s going to make us a better team in the end.”
On any surprises from the meet against Omaha…
“There were plenty of standout swims and I certainly don’t want to gloss over people that do the job for us every time. But I think one that stood out to me was Bailey Williamson. Bailey has struggled through two surgeries to her shoulders because of bone spurs and seriously though that she was going to hang it up. Then came back for her senior season and I am not sure what we expected. That was an encouraging swim for her. I think it was also a shot in the arm for the whole team. To see someone who has had to battle some injuries and some questions about her swimming and to come back and be able to race at a high level.”
On the difference in preparation between the first and second meets of the year…
“I think the only difference is you know you have got one meet under your belt. If you made any mistakes, now is the time to correct them. The mistakes can’t happen this weekend. It’s a little more regimented in terms of how our sets are written and how we are approaching it. There is no margin of error. But that doesn’t change our overall training for the season. It’s still the same training, regardless of who we have this weekend.”
SCOUTING – DENVER
The Denver Pioneers are 2-1 to start the season, winning against Rice and Tulane at the Rice Dual-a-Palooza last week. The Pioneers lost to Florida International at the same meet. Senior Amanda Sanders was named the Summit League’s Swimmer of the Week for her performance at Rice, including a pool record 2:13.94 in the 200 breast.
RAMS TOP OMAHA TO OPEN 2016-17
The Colorado State Rams swimming & diving squad got its 2016-17 campaign started off well, beating the visiting Omaha Mavericks, 168.5-88.5, in a dual meet at Moby Pool on Oct. 14.
The Rams (1-0) excelled in a variety of events, and the four different Rams played a role in three victories each for the home squad.
CSU got the night started off with a 1-2 finish in the 200 Medley Relay. Haley Rowley, Jenna Beaury, Karin Roh and Katie Kickligher combined for the win with a time of 1:47.95, winning by just over two seconds. The Rams swept the top three spots in the first individual event, with Ida Donohue winning the 500 Free (5:13.28), followed by Georgia Young (in her CSU debut) and Gabby Morley.
Both Beaury and Rowley won two individual events. Beaury swept the 100 and 200 Breast, while Rowley took the 100 and 200 Back. Roh and Kicklighter were each victorious in two relays – the 200 Medley and 200 Free relays.
Nicole Sisco got her first collegiate diving win, posting the top 3 meter score (245.10). Emily Williams finished second with 230.25.
Teagan Griffith won the 200 Free by nearly two seconds over teammate Kicklighter, and Marie Goodwyn impressed in her CSU debut with the top time in the 200 IM (2:10.53).
ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNEES
The Rams 2016-17 roster will feature three athletes who earned all-conference recognition at the 2016 Mountain West Championships. Senior Jenna Beaury will have high expectations entering 2016-17 as she earned an NCAA B Cut time in the 200 breast last season, and earned All-MW honors in both the 100 and 200 breast. Two sophomores on the roster earned All-MW honors as freshmen a year ago – Mackenzie Halligan (400 IM) and Ida Donohue (1,650 free).
NUMEROUS RAMS RECEIVE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE RECOGNITION
Nine members of the 2015-16 CSU swimming & diving squad received Scholar-Athlete recognition from the Mountain West over the summer.
Cristina Bassani, Katie Kicklighter, Kelsey Lawton, Megan Lloyd, Carmen Mand, Elizabeth Prasse, Gianna Salanitro, Nina Stitt and Emily Williams all received the honor. The nine student-athletes represented seven different majors. Swimming & diving had the most athletes honored aside from the track & field and cross country programs.
Courtesy of CSU Rams