Fresno State Athletics
Swimming and Diving Season Kicks Off
10/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
By Jason Kelm
jakelm@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The 2015-16 Fresno State swimming and diving season begins this weekend at the University of the Pacific Invitational and the team is looking to continue to improve after a successful 2014-15 campaign.
"I'm feeling really good," eighth year head coach Jeanne Fleck said. "I think we are swimming very well and have great attitudes. The competition has risen to a great level with our newcomers joining us. However, a big part of our program in relays and individual points in senior Kelly Simmons is injured right now, and we are going to have to buck up and figure out what to do without her until she is back."
Six student-athletes will be joining the Bulldogs' program for the upcoming season, including five middle distance swimmers and one diver.
"This is by far the best recruiting class we've had," Fleck said. "We only graduated three off of last year's team. It is a very exciting time for us."
Junior swimmer Esme Gullick and junior diver Shelbie Holden were named the Most Valuable Swimmer and Diver, respectively, for the 'Dogs last season, and are both returning this season.
"They were our two highest point-scorers last year," Fleck said of Gullick and Holden. "And they are only getting better."
Seventh-year head diving coach Taryn Patrick, who was recently inducted into the University of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, is impressed with Holden's improvement and believes that Russian newcomer Irina Nikolaeva has a lot to do with it.
"Shelbie [Holden] is jumping higher and spinning faster," Patrick said. "She looks a lot better right now than she did last year at this time. I feel like Irina [Nikolaeva] is going to be the motivator. I can already see a difference."
Fleck also has her eye on senior Brooke Rodriguez, who broke the Fresno State all-time 100 Breaststroke record last season with a time of 1:02.65.
"Brooke [Rodriguez] is swimming unbelievably fast in practice," Fleck added. "I can see her breaking her own record, and I don't think the 200 is out of the question. Her freestyles are also stepping up."
Junior Tarryn Rennie, who won a bronze medal in the All-Africa Games this summer and has Fresno State's second fastest time in the 100 Butterfly, is very motivated to break that record this year, and Fleck is looking forward to it.
Fresno State's first home meet will be Nov. 14 against Fresno Pacific and UC Santa Cruz. Action will start at noon and admission to all Fresno State swimming and diving meets is free. For a full schedule, click HERE.
How the 'Dogs Stack Up in Each Event According to Fleck
Individual Medley (IM)
"Our number one swimmer is Esme [Gullick]. It is Esme in the 200 IM, along with junior Hailee Baldwin. In the 400 IM, it will be Esme again. Seniors Danielle Powers and Lindsay Ruiz wrap up a pretty strong 400 IM group. I think sophomore Vanessa Dugan is going to do really well also. Even though she struggled a little bit her freshman year, she is really coming around. I have seen a big improvement."
Sprint Freestyle
"We have senior Leah Hatayama, who is huge for us this year. In the sprint events we are very solid with sophomore Hannah Nabors and Leah."
Middle Distance / Distance
"The middle distance is what we're really working on right now. It could be really great for us if sophomore Casey Kennemann steps up like I think she is going to. Then for the distance events we have Danielle [Powers] and Vanessa [Dugan]."
Backstroke
"We are really set in Backstroke right now with freshman Ugne [Mazutaityte] and Esme [Gullick]. Esme is so versatile and we can move her around, and I think Ugne will be more versatile as we go, but right now she is just really concentrating on the Backstroke. It's exciting that we have some really good swimmers to follow her up. Allison Short, who is a sophomore, is really solid in the 100 and 200. Then we have junior Kali Conlon in the Sprint Backs and we also have Emma Monnich, who is one of our freshman, who can also do Backstrokes."
Butterfly
"We are loaded in the Butterfly this year. We have Tarryn Rennie and freshman Gabbie Libang. Those two for the 100's and the 200's. Then we have Lindsay Ruiz for the 200 Fly. Casey [Kennemann] is also a good 200 Flyer. If we need Esme [Gullick], we will put her in there. Esme is probably our fastest Flyer."
Breaststroke
"We are strong in the Breaststroke. We have Hailee [Baldwin] and Brooke [Rodriguez], and then we have Hannah Nabors that can back them up."
Diving
"I feel we are really strong in diving. We have Irina [Nikolaeva], Shelbie [Holden] and senior Lacie [Ruth]. Lacie has made huge improvements this summer. Irina pushes them because she is so talented in teaching them on how to jump higher and showing them what to do. Irina was here all summer and they worked together."
Medley Relay
"There's competition on every end for the 400 Medley Relay. We have Ugne [Mazutaityte] and Esme [Gullick] that can battle for the Backstroke, and we have Brooke [Rodriguez] in the Breaststroke. Esme can go Fly, and so she is going to push Tarryn [Rennie] and Gabbie [Libang] for the 100 Fly positions. Then the Freestyle, I would say Leah [Hatayama] has it, but I think senior Hannah Jarvis is going to push her a little bit."
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