San Jose State finished their regular season on a high note, winning 153-147 over Fresno State. The meet came down to the final relay, where a San Jose State win secured the meet. The Spartans scored some exceptional performances along the way to the dramatic triumph.
One of those performances came early on, where Spartan distance swimmer Riley Spitser won the first two individual events of the meet. Although the 1000 freestyle and 200 freestyle double is often attempted in combined dual meets, it’s unusual to see a swimmer take it on in the single gender format. Still, Spitser easily won both races which built a crucial early lead.
As if that wasn’t enough, she won the 500 freestyle to go along with swimming the leadoff leg on the final relay. Cari Reiswig was also huge for San Jose State, she won both the 1M and 3M diving events.
Fresno State would battle back, winning both the 100 backstroke and breaststroke. Ugne Mazutaityte was the backstroke winner, and she would go on to take the 200 as well.
After an easy win in the 50 freestyle, Bulldog Leah Hatayama just scraped by in the 100. Hatayama was well ahead after 50 yards but ended up winning by less than tenth of a second.
Esme Gullick won the final individual event for Fresno State, giving them the lead going into the relay. Ultimately it was Brynne Beneke’s second leg of 51.59 that gave the Spartans the separation they never gave up.
The two teams will meet again in just a few weeks when they take part in the Mountain West Conference Championship in College Station, Texas.
