Fresno State Athletics
Swimming and Diving Set to Host Third Home Meet
12/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 3, 2001
Swimming and Divign Release For the Week of Dec. 3, 2001
A Little R and R
After spending three days facing tough competition, the swimming and diving team will take a week off before hosting its third home meet of the season. The Bulldogs once again will be competing in the Central Aquatics Complex on Saturday, Dec. 15, at noon, versus Cal Poly.
Three Days for Third Place
The swimming team had quite possibly its most improved meet of the season, clocking over 50 new season-bests. In addition the squad collectively tallied 26 top 10 finishes. Leading the way for the 'Dogs was junior Jessica Klenner, who recorded five new season-bests. Her best improvement came in the 500 free on the first day of competition at UNLV, when she cut down her 500 free time from 5:19.01 to 5:06.65. She also recorded new times in the 1000 free (10:45.66), 1650 free (17:51.11), 200 fly (2:11.09) and the 400 IM (4:39.79). Adjacent to her, was junior Bethany Starkweather, who tallied five season-bests with her times in the 200 free (1:58.71lo), 500 free (5:11.21), 1000 free (11:14.48), 200 back (2:15.46) and 400 IM (4:42.18).
Trio Triumphant
The divers finished with two top 10 ranks at the Brigham Young Diving Invitational, which featured Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado State University, Air Force Academy and Wyoming. The two freshmen earned the honor of placing eighth in the 1-meter and the platform. Lindsey Paulekas scored a season-best in the 1-meter en route to her eighth place finish, while Ashleigh Raley captured eighth in the platform with a score of 164.60. Sophomore Nicole Recupito was 18th in the platform with 124.50.
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 13 top three finishes, accounting for four firsts while leading the team. Lewis recently added to her placings at the UNLV meet, coming in second in the 50 free at 24.11, also a season-best.
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.
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 500 free (5:06.65), 1000 free (10:45.66), 1650 free (17:51.11) 200 fly (2:11.09) and 400 IM (4:39.79).
Jesie Lewis (Sr., Sprint/Mid. Free): Leads the team in top 10 finishes with 13, including four first place captures ... also is the team leader in the 50 free (24.11) and 100 free (52.49) ... 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.
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 200 free (1:54.85) ... 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 (1:06.37) and in the 200 breast (2:26.80), 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): Third 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.
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) ... is ranked ninth in the WAC top 25 list in the 1650 free (18:38.62).
Carolyn Wigginton (Fr., Back/IM): Second on the team in top three finishes with 12 ... ranks seventh in the WAC in the 100 back (59.06) ... team leader in the 100 back, 200 back (2:09.71)... ranked at 12th in the WAC and 200 IM (2:14.03), 15th in the WAC.
