Wyoming vs New Mexico
- January 20, 2024
- Albuquerque, N.M.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: Wyoming Athletics
Albuquerque, N.M. (Jan. 20, 20024) – The Wyoming Cowgirls swimming and diving team put a damper on the New Mexico’s Senior Day activities by claiming a massive victory in their first Mountain West Conference dual meet of 2024 today sweeping five events on their way to taking first in 13 of 16 events. UW topped New Mexico 169.5 – 120.5 in the meet at the Armond H. Seidler Natatorium in Albuquerque.
“The girls had a blast racing in a new location for them,” UW associate head coach Kristin Walker said. “Tessa Bendokas is on a roll and dominated in the 100 and 200 backstroke today.”
The team finished with nine individuals and one relay team finishing in first place. The race day started with the 200-yard medley relay. Cowgirls Emily Giles, Carly Palmer, Hannah Giles, and Mikayla Moore finished first with a time of 1:47.10.
Then, individual races commenced with the Cowgirls outshining New Mexico in another nine races. In the 1,000-yard freestyle senior Sage Morton took home the victory, touching with a time of 10:37.03. She was followed by Britt Nichols who took second.
The Pokes swept the 200-yard freestyle with Palmer finishing first with a time of 1:53.32, Kylee Theiler taking second at 1:58.27, and Maisyn Klimczak completing the sweep with a time of 1:58.32 for third. In the 100-yard Backstroke, Tessa Bendokas touched first with a time of 58.40 followed by Emily Giles with a time of 59.00.
The Cowgirls swept again in the 100-yard breaststroke. Brynlee Busskohl took the victory with a time of 1:03.95. Lauren Swartz came in second with a time of 1:07.15, and Rachael Horne finished third with a time of 1:07.60. Continuing the sweep, Wyoming took 1, and 3 in the 200-yard butterfly with Katie ford taking first place with a time of 2:10.16, Emily Burchett taking second with a time of 2:10.53 and Sophie Nutter taking third with a time of 2:12. 85.
Tara Joyce and Kali Franckowiak performed a one-two punch in the 50-yard freestyle with Joyce finishing at 24.23 and Franchowiak finishing right behind her with a time of 24.27. In the 100-yard freestyle, Moore took second with a time of 53.88. That race was followed by another sweep in the 200-yard backstroke. Bendokas was the Poke touching first a 2:07.49. She was followed by Kayla Cunningham finishing with a time of 2:08.57 and Ellie Fritscher finishing with a time of 2:09.34.
Busskohl claimed first in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.25. The meet concluded with Wyoming taking second in the 200-yard relay. Swimmers Bendokas, Emily Giles, Nutter, and Theiler finished with a time of 1:41.44.
Up next, the Cowgirls the teams’ heads to Las Vegas with the Cowboys to compete against UNLV at the Jim Reitz Pool on January 26 and 27.
Courtesy: New Mexico Athletics
Albuquerque, N.M. – The University of New Mexico women’s swimming and diving team fell to the University of Wyoming on Saturday by a score of 169.5-120.5. The Lobos (0-7, 0-3 MW) won both diving events and two swimming events on the day over the Cowgirls (7-1, 3-0 MW).
Junior Katy McCarter won the 100-yard freestyle (52.92) for the Lobos’ first swimming win of the day in the meet’s ninth event. McCarter recorded a third-place finish in her other individual event of the day in the 50-yard freestyle (24.42).
Sophomore Maya Clise quickly followed up New Mexico’s first win two events later with a first-place finish of her own in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:27.14).
Senior Kristen Hepfer, one of seven Lobos honored during Saturday’s Senior Day festivities, won the 1-meter diving event with a score of 258.68 in her final home meet of her career. She also dove well off the 3-meter board, where she placed second with a score of 242.70.
New Mexico’s standout freshman diver Alice English won the 3-meter event with a score of 250.80 and placed second in the 1-meter event with a score of 248.85.
New Mexico held their Senior Day prior to Saturday’s meet in which seven Lobos were honored. Maddie Deucher, Jordan Foster, Kristen Hepfer, Kiana Raagas, Iryna Tsesiul, and Ola Tomaszek were those celebrated in a 15-minute ceremony.
The Lobos will next be in action next Saturday, January 27th, for a dual meet against their bitter rival New Mexico State University down in Las Cruces, N.M.
