'Dogs set for MW Championships in Houston

Wednesday, February 21

Houston, Texas

Fresno State

Mountain West Conference Championship

'Dogs set for MW Championships in Houston

2/20/2024 8:49:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

By: Mariela Rubio / Strategic Communications Coordinator

FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State swim and dive teams travels to the Bayou City for the 2023-24 Mountain West Championships. Championships will be held at the CRWC Natatorium at the University of Houston in Texas. This is a four day prelim finals meet held from Wednesday Feb, 21 through Saturday, Feb. 24. Prelims are set to start at 10: 30 am CT and final at 6: 00 p.m. CT. Each session will be streaming live on the Mountain West Network.

BULLDOG BONES

Fresno State wraps up the season with a 8-2 dual meet record
For the first time in program history the Bulldogs defeated Nevada in a dual meet, 177-123
This season saw two broken records; Aliz Kalmar broke the Fresno State program record in the 100 breast with a time of 1:01.75
Laura Kalmar broke an Aquatic Center record in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:07.65
Aliz Kalmar is the lone Bulldog to end the season with a Mountain West Swimmer of the Week (Nov. 7)
It's a final rodeo for the seniors, Eleonora Trentin, Caylynn McEvoy, Eleonora Trentin, Jaden Fagundes, Anna Chope and MacKenzie Hutler.
Swimmers to keep an eye out for Aliz Kalmar, Laura Kalmar, Jenna Pulikknen, Julia Matney, Wiktoria Dabrowska who has showing strong consistency in their individual events over the season
Diver Grace Ally earned season highs in the 1 meter spring board (270.83, vs CSUB), 3 meter springboard (303.53, vs Nevada), and platform dive (430.10, at UCLA Invite)
For the second time in conference history the championships will be held in Texas at the CRWC Natatorium at the University of Houston

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

Since 2013 Fresno State has seen 12 event wins at Mountain West Championships
Last season Fresno State finished the Championship in 5th place, their highest finish since joining the Mountain West in 2013 and have seen a program high finish of 5th place twice (2023, 2019)
Last season saw ten A final appearances with Athena Clayson, Aliz Kalmar and Mackenzie Hutler each with two
Five Bulldogs will hope to see repeat A final appearances, Samarah Melia, Sera Hanagan, Mackenzie Hutler, Aliz Kalmar, Wiktoia Dabrowska

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION

San Diego State is the returning back-to-back championships
Fresno State has fallen to two out of the three opponents they will see at championships (SDSU and SJSU)
Air Force's Kinzie Etzelmiller broke the school record in the 3-meter this season at the Liberty invite, posting a score of 313.65 in the event.
Colorado State's Erin Dawson and Maya White both logged NCAA "B" standard times in the 400-yard individual medley (4:15.35) and the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:30.35), respectively, both times leading the Conference.
San Diego State, the 2022 and 2023 Conference Meet Champions, return to Houston looking to garner a record three-peat, and its fourth championship in the last five years and to log their eighth Conference title.
Rebel sophomore Erika Carlson swam a program-best, 4:46.53, in the 500-yard freestyle, also marking an NCAA "B" cut time.
Leading the Rebels with multiple Mountain West-leading times this season is senior Blanka Bokros in the 100 fly (53.07) and 200 fly (1:57.09). Adding their own mark atop the MW time charts on the year are senior Ruby Howell in the 200 IM (1:59.72), sophomore Erika Carlson in the 500 free (4:46.53) and freshman Fernanda Mendez Guerra (49.18)
Maisyn Klimczak looks to become a back-to-back champion in the 1650-yard freestyle, the feat would be the first two-time champion for the Cowgirls since Katelyn Blattner.

"Fresno State Athletics - Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities" - The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California's Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate