Bronco fans will get to go behind the scenes with Boise State Swimming and Diving at this week’s Mountain West Swimming and Diving Championships as sophomore Ally Kleinsorgen takes over the athletic department’s Snapchat account! Ally and the Broncos left campus Monday afternoon, headed for Texas, and she and her teammates will be giving Bronco fans a look behind the curtain at this exciting event. To keep up with the Broncos, make sure you add “broncoathletics” as a friend on your Snapchat app!
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State will seek its third Mountain West swimming and diving championship, and fifth conference title overall, at the 2017 Mountain West Championships this Wednesday–Saturday at the Texas A&M Natatorium in College Station.
The Broncos previously won Mountain West titles in 2012 and 2014, and prior to joining the Mountain West captured consecutive WAC titles from 2010-11. Over five seasons in the Mountain West (2012-present), Boise State has never finished lower than second at the championship meet, turning in runner-up efforts in 2013, 2015 and 2016 in addition to its two titles.
How To Follow The Mountain West Championships: The Mountain West Network will be the place to watch the 2017 Mountain West Swimming and Diving Championships, streaming every session live beginning with Wednesday’s 1-meter springboard prelims at 11:30 a.m. MT. Prelims for the remaining three days of the meet are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. MT. Each night’s finals session is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. MT start.
Fans can also follow the Broncos’ trip via the program’s social media channels above (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and on the Boise State Athletics Snapchat (“broncoathletics”) as sophomore Ally Kleinsorgen will be hosting the takeover of the account. Results, photos and videos will be posted each day of the trip.
Is This The Year Boise State Returns To The Top?: Boise State has come agonizingly close to winning its third Mountain West title in each of the past two years, falling short by 25 points in 2015 and by just 13 points last season. The Broncos, Mountain West champions in 2012 and 2014, will once again come into the championship meet among the heavy favorites this week, led by a stacked swimming class.
Look for the Broncos to play a big role in all freestyle events, as seniors Brittany Aoyama and Katelyn Martin lead the way in the sprints, while junior Emma Chard and senior Felicity Cann will challenge for the middle-distance and long-distance event crowns. Last year, Martin took third for the Broncos in the 50 free, while the Broncos placed three swimmers in the top eight of the 100 free: Aoyama (fourth), Chard (sixth) and Martin (seventh). Chard won the 200 free while just missing a sweep of the 200 and 500 when her final kick in the latter event came up just six-hundredths of a second short of Air Force’s Genevieve Miller.
Relay Dominance: Heading into the Mountain West Swimming and Diving Championships, the Boise State relay teams have been a dominant force, owning the top conference times in all five relay events. This week, the Broncos will attempt to become just the second team to sweep all five relays (San Diego State, 2014).
Last year, the Broncos took four of five relays, coming up short only in the 400 medley relay, finishing behind Wyoming by just 0.11 of a second.
Brittany Aoyama Aims To Etch Her Name As One Of Boise State’s All-Time Best: Boise State senior Brittany Aoyama enters this year’s championship event on the cusp of school and conference history. The Stockton, Calif. native is already Boise State’s all-time leader in Mountain West event titles with seven, and, as the two-time defending conference 100 fly champ, can become the first swimmer in Mountain West history to win the 100 fly three times. Already Boise State’s career leader in total individual event victories (62), Aoyama needs just two at the conference championship meet to eclipse Amber Boucher’s Bronco record 20 wins set in 2010-11. The Bronco senior may also have the chance to become the first Boise State swimmer to win three individual (non-relay) events at a single conference championship meet, should she enter all three of the events in which she owns the conference’s top time this season (100 fly, 50 free, 100 free).
Divers Ready For Championships: Boise State’s diving contingent will aim to make an impact of their own at the championship meet. Senior Karli Kriewall (eighth on platform in 2016) and junior Kacee Olson (seventh on 3-meter) will aim for repeat top-eight performances, with senior Jordan Marthens, sophomore Cassidy Bose and freshman Taylor Hosein providing depth for the Broncos.
Records Will Fall: It’s a lock that school records will fall at the Mountain West Championships, and Boise State aims to set some new marks this year. Last season, the Broncos set school records in the 100 back (Sam Wicks, 52.03), 200 free (Emma Chard, 1:45.11), 500 free (Chard, 4:40.21), 200 IM (Wicks, 1:57.18), the 200 free relay (1:28.93), 400 free relay (3:15.38), 800 free relay (7:04.60) and the 200 medley relay (1:37.63).
Underclassmen Set For Breakout Performances: Boise State’s swimming class is bolstered in part by a crew of underclassmen who have put up impressive times this season. In the backstroke events, sophomores Ally Kleinsorgen and Abbey Sorensen will challenge for the conference titles. Kleinsorgen finished third in the 200 back and fourth in the 100 back at last year’s championship meet, while Sorensen’s top times in each event are in the Mountain West top 10. Freshman Robin Pinger will be a factor in the breaststroke events, as her top times rank seventh in the conference in each of the events. Also looking to make an impact among the youth corps for the Broncos are sophomore Laura Williams, who finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke at last year’s conference meet, and sophomore Cody Evans, who ranks eighth in the conference in the 100 free and 13th in the 200 free.
Distance Threats: Boise State will look to light up the scoreboard in many events at the conference championships, but none more so than the middle- and long-distance freestyle events. Junior Emma Chard and senior Felicity Cann each finished in the top five of the 200 and 500 frees last year, with Chard winning the 200 and coming in second in the 500. The duo stands 1-2 in the conference in the 200 this season, with junior Amelia Draney ranking eighth, while in the 500 Chard is ranked second, Cann third and Draney seventh. In the mile (1,650 free), the Broncos have a conference-best four swimmers in the top 10, as Chard ranks fourth, Cann seventh, Draney ninth and freshman Alyssa Schultz 10th.
Among The MW’s Top Times: Heading into this week’s championship meet, numerous Broncos hold good spots on the Mountain West’s updated list of top times and performances. The Broncos own eight top times in the conference heading into the championship meet, including all five relays (200 FR, 400 FR, 800 FR, 200 MR, 400 MR). Individually, Brittany Aoyama owns the conference’s top times in the 50 free (22.45), 100 free (49.03) and in her signature event, the 100 fly (52.04). Felicity Cann is atop the 200 free times at 1:47.01.
News courtesy of Boise State Athletics.
