Fresno State Athletics
Swimming and Diving Back In Action With Two Meets
11/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 26, 2001
Swimming and Diving Release for the Week of Nov. 26, 2001.
Diving In
The Bulldogs get back into action this weekend with two meets. The trio of divers head to Brigham Young University for the BYU Diving Invitational, Friday, Nov. 30-Saturday, Dec. 1. The swimmers head to the annual UNLV Rebel Swimming Invitational, Thursday, Nov. 29-Saturday, Dec. 1. At UNLV, the swimmers will face Wyoming, UNLV, San Diego State and Cal State Northridge.
800 Relay Splashes Into Top 25
Fresno State made its way into Taper and Shave's Top 25 event times with a 7:58.67 in the 800 freestyle relay. Senior Jesie Lewis, juniors Jessica Klenner and Bethany Starkweather and freshman Melissa Johnson collectively earned a third place time in the event at the Colorado State Invitational, Saturday, Oct. 20, in Fort Collins, Colo.
Swimmers Leap Into WAC Rankings
After seven meets have been completed and the deck has been cleared, the Bulldogs have made their way into the top 10 in several events. Leading the way is Klenner, who holds the ninth position in both the 1000 freestyle and 200 butterfly. Klenner swam a time of 10:50.25 in the 1000 at the home opener on Saturday, Oct. 6, versus California and Pacific. More recently, she clocked 2:11.42 in the 200 at the dual meet against Air Force and New Mexico on Friday, Nov. 2. Klenner is the only swimmer making waves, freshmen Carolyn Wigginton and Minja Mickelsen are both ranked in the 100 backstroke. Wigginton was timed at 1:00.80 at Fresno State's Fall "Valley" Classic for a seventh place WAC rank, Mickelsen owns a time of 1:01.39, which she earned at the Colorado State "Early Bird" Invite, Oct. 20. The Bulldogs are also ranked 4,5,6,7 and 9 in the 1650 free. Klenner is fourth with 18:00.52, while freshmen Katie Haney and Jolene Valley are fifth and sixth (18:19.14 and 18:24.19.) Sophomore Greer McGettrick and Starweather are seventh and ninth with their times of 18:38.20 and 18:38.62.
Divers Standing Tall in WAC
After spending last season with just one diver in sophomore Nicole Recupito, the Bulldogs have returned with three for the 2001-02 campaign. Recupito is joined by Raley and Paulekas. The trio has performed solidly and has since found themselves in the WAC's top 10 performances. Raley is ranked second in the 1-meter, while Paulekas is ninth. The trio is ranked 1-2-3 in the platform, Raley (264.35), Recupito (239.60) and Paulekas (164.85). Raley's score of 275.60 in the 1-meter is a NCAA Automatic Qualifying mark.
Get Out of the Way
Since the season began, Lewis has been ruling the pool lanes. She has accounted for 12 top three finishes, accounting for four firsts while leading the team. Lewis recently added to her placings at the LMU meet, coming in first in the 100 back at 1:01.63.
NCAA Bound
Raley has also qualified for the NCAA Diving Championships with her score of 275.50 in the 1-meter. Thus far on the season, Raley has finished in the top three places, 11 times, which includes nine first places.
Fresno State Competition Enters Polls
Southern Methodist University and Rice are both ranked by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) in the most recent poll, Nov. 15. SMU is holding strong at ninth with 135 points, while Rice is 23rd with 20 points. SMU is the host of the 2002 WAC Championships, held in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 28-March 2.
Head Coach Daniella Irle
Head swimming and diving coach Daniella Irle is in her 10th season at the helm of the Bulldogs. During her nine-plus seasons, she has accumulated an overall record of 90-29. In each of her nine previous seasons, her teams have finished with a winning record. Also, each of the school records have been either broken or reset. Presently she has two record holders on the squad in Lewis and Recupito.
2001-02 Athlete Notes
Jessica Klenner (Jr., Distance Free/Fly): Is fourth on the team in top three finishes with 10, has three first places ... ranks ninth in the WAC in both the 1000 free (10:50.52) and the 200 fly (2:11.42) ... swam second in the Bulldogs' Top 25 800 free relay (7:58.67) ... named Swimmer/Diver of the Meet twice, Nov. 2 and 10 ... team leader in the 200 free (1:56.29), 1000 free (10:50.25) and 200 fly (2:11.42).
Jesie Lewis (Sr., Sprint/Mid. Free): Leads the team in top 10 finishes with 12, including four first place captures ... also is the team leader in the 50 free (24.52) and 100 free (53.76) ... ranks 11th in the WAC in 50 and 100 free ... was the leadoff in the Bulldogs Top 25 800 free relay team (7:58.67) ... owns the school record in the 50 free (23.76) and the 100 free (51.55) ... 2001 Mr. Bulldog Designee ... Swimmer/Diver of the Week.
Melissa Johnson (Fr., Sprint/Mid Free): Has four first place finishes on the season, which is the second-most on the team ... team leader in the 500 free (5:18.25) ... anchored the Top 25 800 free relay team (7:58.67) ... named Swimmer/Diver of the Meet Oct. 13.
Greer McGettrick (So., Breast/Free): Sixth on the team in top three finishes with seven ... ranks seventh on the WAC Top 25 list in the 1650 free (18:38.20) ... team leader in the 100 breast (1:08.40) and in the 200 breast (2:27.49), 11th in the WAC ... is third all-time in the 100 breast (1:05.57) and fourth all-time in the 200 breast (2:20.72).
Minja Mickelsen (Fr., Free/Back): Is fifth on the team in top three finishes with eight ... ranks 10th in the WAC in the 100 back (1:01.39).
Ashleigh Raley (Fr., Diving): Second on the team in top three finishes with 11 ... team leader in all three diving events, 1-meter dual (275.60), 3-meter dual (244.95) and Platform (264.35) ... NCAA Automatic Qualifier in the 1-meter ... ranked first in the WAC in the platform, second in the 1-meter and 11th in the 3-meter ... named Swimmer/Diver of the Meet Oct. 6 and Nov. 3.
Bethany Starkweather (Jr., IM/Back): Has two second place finishes this season ... swam in the third position of the top 25 800 free relay team (7:58.67) ... team leader in the 400 IM (4:45.99), which is 11th in the WAC ... is ranked ninth in the WAC top 25 list in the 1650 free (18:38.62).
Carolyn Wigginton (Fr., Back/IM): Tied for second on the team in top three finishes with 11 ... ranks seventh in the WAC in the 100 back (1:00.80) ... team leader in the 100 back, 200 back (2:10.38), ranked at 12th in the WAC and 200 IM (2:14.03), 15th in the WAC ... Swimmer/Diver of the Week.
