Fresno State Athletics
Swimming Towards Success
4/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
April 9, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - When the Fresno State swimming and diving team, led by second year head coach Jeanne Fleck, took to the pool to kick off the 2009-10 season, spirits and energy levels were high in anticipation for a successful year.
Equipped with 11 experienced letterwinners to go along with nine highly capable freshmen recruits, the `Dogs knew that they were on the right path to success and improving on last years efforts.
The Bulldogs opened the season in San Jose, Calif., where they got a good look at what their competition was going to be like all season as they faced off against most of their conference rivals in the annual WAC Shootout. The young `Dogs team fared well winning multiple events while at the same time getting an opportunity to see what kind of production they were going to get from the freshmen class.
"The WAC Shootout was a good stepping stone for us," said Fleck. "By that point I could already tell that we were a lot stronger in singles as well as an all around team as compared to last year."
Dani Yoho, a freshman from Sugarland, Texas, brought lightning-fast times to the table in the 50 freestyle event as she swam a 24.51 in her first meet of NCAA competition, the fastest time by a Bulldog since the return of the program in the 2008-09 season.
Returning school record holder Heidi Gjoen from Oslo, Norway also showed that she was ready to compete at her peak early finishing second out of a class of 24 in the 200 backstroke.
While on the diving side, freshman Stacey Luke from Kenmoor, Wash., led all Bulldog divers during the WAC Shootout with a score that was good enough to earn her sixth place out of 20 divers in her first meet as a Bulldog.
Possibly one of the most exciting moments for the team came in the very first dual meet of the season where the `Dogs faced off against cross town rivals Fresno Pacific at Clovis North Aquatic Center.
The `Dogs came out with passion and the winning desire as they brought home wins in nine of the 14 events en route to a dominating 182-77 victory over the Sunbirds. Every event boasted a season best time by a Bulldog, while yet again the young freshmen swimmers helped to add a boost for the `Dogs.
Freshman Rayanne Nguyen had a break out meet bringing home four first place finishes including the fly leg of the 400 yard medley relay, 200 yard freestyle (1:57.36), 200 yard butterfly (2:08.58) and 100 yard butterfly (58.94).
Britney Vogel, a freshman from Fairfield, Calif., won multiple events for the Bulldogs as well including complete domination of the breaststroke events while playing a crucial role in the winning 400 medley relay team.
Luke also continued with her impressive scores on the boards where she dominated the 1- and 3-meter dives.
The win was truly a team victory in that every person on the Fresno State team contributed at least one point towards the very first "W".
"It just felt awesome to get our first win," said Fleck. "I couldn't stop smiling it was a wonderful feeling. We swam better than I expected. We had so many season and lifetime best times and the divers did amazing, too. We had a lot of sweeps and our young ladies performed very well."
The team continued to grow over the course of the season as Fleck, along with diving coach Taryn Patrick and assistant swim coach Ryan Purdy, implemented intense practice sessions both in the water as well as necessary dry land training to help prepare the Bulldogs for what was in store for them.
The young Bulldog team came up against some prestigious programs as they competed against the likes of defending WAC Champions Nevada, followed by a visit to the defending national champions, the California Golden Bears. The `Dogs hung tough no matter who the competition, holding their heads high and gaining valuable experience along the way and learning how to fight hard no matter what the score may have been.
Fresno State showed a courageous effort finishing 11th out of 25 teams at the annual Toshiba Classic proving that they had what it takes to swim with the best and showing positive signs that things were only going to get better. The 11th place finish overall planted positive seeds within the youthful Bulldogs along with coaches as they out swam conference rivals Nevada and New Mexico State both of which were teams they knew they would see in the season deciding WAC Championships.
"We have a lot of things to look forward to with our team," said Fleck. "We truly are getting better every week and we showed in the Toshiba Classic that we are ready to rise up to any challenge that is put in front of us."
Yoho continued to improve on her times, dominating the 50 free week in and week out as she helped cap off the `Dogs impressive team effort at the Toshiba Classic by shattering a decade old school record in the event with a time of 23.64.
"Dani was lightning fast for us all year," said Fleck. "She swam the 50 free faster than anyone has in Fresno State history and I am extremely proud of her."
The 2009-10 season also brought along the opportunity for the Bulldogs to host multiple events for the first time since the reinstatement of the program. Home events were held at Clovis North Aquatic Complex as the construction of the new on campus aquatic facilities had just begun.
The `Dogs were ready to protect the home pool in front of the red wave as they rallied off back-to-back wins in their first ever home stand against the Pacific Tigers and the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners. The pair of victories came at a great time to help build momentum as the team moved closer to the WAC Championship meets.
"Winning dual meets this year was a great step toward the winning tradition of Fresno State and the past swimming and diving teams," said Fleck. "It felt great to get those wins at home in front of our fans."
The year was capped off at the 2010 WAC Championships in San Antonio, Texas where the young Bulldogs fought hard showing major improvement from the 2008-09 season en route to an eighth place overall finish.
Nearly every swimmer went a season or career best in their respected event as the `Dogs put together a final day rally to boost them ahead of Idaho and accumulate a point total that surpassed last season's efforts by nearly 100 total team points.
"This past season was a year of growing and we matured as the year went on," said Fleck. "Throughout the year we saw great things from the freshmen that will be a great foundation for the future. Heidi and Kendra Weeks alongside the other upperclassman should prove to be great leaders in the pool as well as the classroom for the future of Bulldog swimming and diving. The freshman Dani, Rayanne and Stacy proved to be top eight finalists, which is a great way to start off their college careers."
The team looks to carry the momentum from the end of the 2009-10 season over to next year as their sights are set high on moving further up the charts in the WAC.
"We improved so much over the past year," said Fleck. "I am extremely proud of all of my swimmers and divers and I really can't wait to come back and do it again next year. We will continue to improve and we will be even better next season."
"We are Your Team!" Stay up to date on all the latest Fresno State swimming and diving information at www.gobulldogs.com.
