Swimming & Diving opens MW Championship Wednesday in Minneapolis

Wednesday, February 20

Minneapolis, MN

Fresno State

Mountain West Championship

Swimming & Diving opens MW Championship Wednesday in Minneapolis

2/19/2019 3:37:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

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FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State swimming & diving team has been in Minneapolis since Sunday preparing to compete in the 2019 MW Championship, which will take place Wednesday through Saturday at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

"We're pretty excited," said head coach Jeanne Fleck. "I think this is probably the best team we've had since the program was reestablished. We're really excited about moving up and that's our goal to get in the top five. We've got returning conference champions in Ugne and Manuela and it's just a strong team. Kelli and Irina and Yuliya are going to be huge for us and diving is a big part of our success."

The Bulldogs have finished seventh in the MW Championship in each of the last two years, moving up from 10^th place in 2016. Last year the 'Dogs broke eight program records, had nine podium finishes, and had 21 top-5 times. Junior Manuela Mendolicchio was the MW champion in the 200 Breast and also earned All-MW honors in the 100 Breast.

Senior Ugne Mazutaityte, a two-time MW champion in the 200 Back, will be one of nine Bulldog seniors competing in their final conference championship and has totaled four All-MW honors in her illustrious career. The 'Dogs have four other All-MW swimmers from last year back for the 2019 championship, including divers Kelli Funk (platform) and Irina Nikolaeva (1-meter) and swimmers Zofia Niemczak (200 Fly) and Kimberly Harbert (200 Fly).

In addition to Funk and Nikolaeva returning on the boards the Bulldogs will also have freshman mid-year enrollee Yuliya Tykha looking to contribute points on all three diving events. With three divers competing last year the 'Dogs had four total All-MW finishes and the team looks to be among the deepest diving squads in the conference meet again this year.

While the 'Dogs have thrived in the specialty strokes, which mostly occur later in the four-day meet, Brenda Diaz Martinez, Darina Khisiamova, and Osianna Mcreed are among the free stroke swimmers that could help keep the Bulldogs in striking distance heading into the late stages of the championship.

"Saturday is our best day but Thursday will also be good for us now," Fleck said. "We're not only a one-day team anymore and I feel like we won't have to be in eighth place going into Saturday and will be in the mix. That being said, between fourth and eighth place it can come down to a relay disqualification or just a couple of points. It'll be really fun to see where we are and what we do."

Mendolicchio has the top times on the team this season in the 100 Breast, 200 Breast (second fastest in the MW), 100 IM, and 200 IM. Mazutaityte leads in the 100 Back and 200 Back, Diaz Martinez has the top times in the 500 Free, 1000 Free, 1650 Free, and 400 IM, Niemczak leads in the 100 Fly, 200 Fly, and 200 Free, and McReed has led the team in both the 50 and 100 Free. Nikolaeva has the best 1-meter and 3-meter scores and Funk leads on platform while both have qualified for the NCAA Zone meet.

During the regular season the 'Dogs went 6-3 in dual meets and raced against five of the nine other MW teams, including San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Nevada, and Air Force. The 'Dogs had a dual win over San Jose State, finished tied with UNLV at the UNLV Invitational, and placed ahead of both San Jose State and Air Force in the Chick-Fil-A Invitational.

The MW Championship is taking place in Minneapolis for the first time after being in Texas in each of the last five years and in Oklahoma City in the 'Dogs first year as a member of the conference in 2013.

All four days of the Mountain West Championship will be video streamed live on FloSwimming ($). Live results will also be available, and for more information visit the Mountain West Championship page.

2019 Mountain West Swimming & Diving Championship – Minneapolis, Minn.
Schedule of Events – Finals (Pacific Time)

Wednesday (Prelims begin at 10:30 AM Pacific)
4:30 PM - 200 Medley Relay
4:35 PM - 1-Meter Diving
5:10 PM - 800 Freestyle Relay

Thursday (Prelims begin at 9:00 AM Pacific)
4:30 PM - 500 Freestyle
4:50 PM - 200 Individual Medley
5:00 PM - 50 Freestyle
5:15 PM - 3-Meter Diving
5:55 PM - 400 Medley Relay

Friday (Prelims begin at 9:00 AM Pacific)
4:30 PM - 400 Individual Medley
4:50 PM - 100 Butterfly
5:05 PM - 200 Freestyle
5:25 PM - 100 Breaststroke
5:30 PM - 100 Backstroke
6:00 PM - 200 Free Relay

Saturday (Prelims begin at 9:00 AM Pacific)
4:30 PM - 1650 Freestyle
4:50 PM - 200 Backstroke
5:10 PM - 100 Freestyle
5:20 PM - 200 Breaststroke
5:35 PM - 200 Butterfly
5:50 PM - Platform Diving
6:15 PM - 400 Freestyle Relay

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.

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