LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Crimson team topped the White team by a score of 71-58 on Wednesday in the NM State swimming and diving Crimson and White Scrimmage.
“This was one of the most impressive inter-squad meets we’ve had. There were a lot of great efforts and the competitive spirit of our team was tremendous,” said head coachRick Pratt. “Picabo Bender has stood out in the fall and was very strong today, winning the 100 and 200 free. Jennifer Brennecke was also impressive with some in-season best swims in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard IM. Seniors Cassandra Rupp andDorottya Lennert had some impressive swims and, overall, this scrimmage was a great indicator of where we are fitness-wise and what we need to work on moving forward. It was fun to watch our large group of divers perform today and coach Goe is really making a difference. I am very inspired and looking forward to the rest of the month.”
The Crimson team won the 200-yard medley relay in the first event of the day. Cassandra Rupp, Jennifer Brennecke, Jannah Sonnenschein and Aimee Hatfield combined for a time of 1:48.57 to top Georgia Brown, Lauren Wood, Dorottya Lennert and Chelsey Reber on the White team, who had a time of 1:48.64.
The White team bounced back for event two as Nattie French won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:14.63, while Crimson’s Emily Nightingale finished second at 5:18.34. The White team then captured a win in the 100-yard freestyle as Picabo Bender finished in 53.49. Rupp, on the Crimson team, landed second with a time of 54.23.
The Crimson team came back in the fourth event, the 200-yard IM, as Brennecke ended in 2:11.72, while the White team’s Wood finished second in 2:12.65. Event five was the 100-yard butterfly, with the White team’s Lennert garnering a time of 56.69. Sonnenschein, on the Crimson team, finished second with a time of 58.88.
The scrimmage also featured diving. Due to the weather and the scrimmage being moved indoors, divers only competed in the 1 meter dive and the 3 meter dive.
“The divers had a great first showing with Lauren Reifel winning the 1-m and 3-m events,” said diving coach Andrew Goe. “Rounding out the top three on 1-m was Mckinna Hauff and Raina Brommer, and on 3-m was Abby Watson and Sheridan Decker. This just shows how competitive all of them are and how close they are in points. This is a great position to be in as any of them can give us a strong showing on any board. It’s a good start for a team with huge potential.”
The scrimmage then jumped back to swimming with the 50-yard freestyle as Hatfield from the Crimson team finished in 24.96, while the White team’s Lennert landed second in 25.30. In the 100-yard backstroke, Rupp garnered a win for the Crimson with a time of 58.87, while the White team’s Brown garnered a time of 59.95.
Event nine featured the 200-yard freestyle, with Bender gaining points for the White team with a final time of 1:55.25. Cori Molisee from the Crimson team finished in 1:57.71. The 100-yard breaststroke then saw Brennecke on the Crimson team finish in 1:07.03, while Wood from the White team came in just behind her with a time of 1:07.74.
The 11th and final event, the 200-yard freestyle relay, feature Brown, Lennert, Reber and Bender for the White team competing against fellow White teammates Harlee Whitzell,Alissa Bezenek, Nattie French and Kenzie Soper as well as Crimson’s Hatfield, Rupp, Sonnenschein and Molissee. Brown, Lennert, Reber and Bender won the event in 1:39.33.
Swimming news courtesy of New Mexico State Swimming & Diving.