By Massiel Ladron De Guevara
 Staff Writer

The bustle and excitement of the last dual action meet for the women’s swim season filling Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool Saturday has quieted down as the lady Waves now focus on Conference. 

Long Beach’s Belmont Plaza pool will be hosting the 15-school invitational in mid-February, giving the lady Waves an opportunity to face rivals once again, as well as schools they haven’t competed against during the regular season.

Despite having lost to SDSU this Saturday, 154-85, the lady Waves and head coach Nick Rodionoff feel good about their swims on Saturday and look forward to Conference.

“We were right on,” Rodionoff said.  “We swam against a strong team, and despite the fact that we lost the meet we had some of our best individual   times. The divers also did very well.”

Freshman Emily Andrews won the one meter diving competition, while junior Michelle Barker captured the three-meter event. 

Rookie Maggie Lane finished second on both boards, Andrews finished third in the three meter and Barker finished third in the one-meter event.

Sophomore Megan Melton finished with a second place spot in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events. She recorded a time of 1:58.27 in the 200 freestyle and 5:22.71 in    the 500. 

Sophomore Lindsey Krusen placed third in both the 200 butterfly, with a time of 2:13.14, and the 400 individual medley, clocking in at 4:35.08.

Other sophomores claiming the third place spot were Brina Bendy and Alison Reddick. 

Bendy clocked a time of 2:00.08 in the 200 freestyle, and Reddick clocked a time of 2:15.71 in the backstroke.

Senior Jessica Unbewust finished second in the 50 freestyle sprint, clocking in a time of 24.83, and third in the 100 freestyle with a time of 54.73. 

After completing her last dual meet of her college career, Unbewust expressed satisfaction on her final swims before Conference.

“I was happy on how I did on this last meet,” Unbewust said. “I’m glad I swam well in my last meet. My college career went out on a good note.”

Unebewust plans on continuing her swimming career after graduation.

“I am sad that my college career is over, but happy that I am closing this chapter in my life and opening a new one,” Unebewust said.  “I am going to keep swimming and hope to make the Olympic trials.”

Senior Amy Lehman also plans to continue swimming after graduation. “I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing, but I do want to stay competitive,” Lehman said. “I plan on competing in triathlons after graduation.”

For the moment, however, Lehman is looking forward to Conference. “I think our whole team is going to do really well,” Lehman said. “We have some strong relays and they are always an exciting event to watch.”

Other graduating seniors are Hillary Viets and Celia Haight. Haight also plans to continue her swimming career after graduation.

“I definitely want to keep doing it,” Haight said. “I am looking at competing in Masters.” Masters is a swim club for people between the ages of 18-100.

“The girls who are graduating are my four captains,” Rodionoff said. “They are all great leaders who we will miss very much. It will be impossible to replace them.”

The lady Waves close their season 4-4 in dual meets. The Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference (PCSC) Championships are Feb. 18-20 at the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

CAPTION

PHOTO 1

GO FOR IT: The Waves’ Lindsey Krusen competes in the breaststroke in a medley Saturday in Pepperdine’s 154-85 loss to San Diego State University. The meet in Malibu marked the end of regular season for the lady Waves.

Photo 2

January 31, 2002