SHUHEI MATSUO
Assistant Sports Editor
What goes up must come down.
The Pepperdine women’s swimming team began its 2006-07 campaign with what Head Coach Nick Rodionoff called “the best team we’ve ever had.” However, its momentum stopped when it fell to cross-town rival Loyola Marymount 172-90 during Saturday’s dual meet. With this loss, the Waves moved to 1-1 in dual meet action for the season.
“Basically, we had some bright spots, but we were way off,” Rodionoff said. “It was pretty disastrous, but we kind of expected it.”
After having a successful fall season and winning the first dual meat against Cal State Northridge on Jan. 13, it seemed that the team would just cruise the rest of its regular season with the big strong wave. However, the winter break took away much practice time, and that has become an obstacle for many swimmers, Rodionoff said.
“We are going to struggle,” he said. “But if everything works, the rest of the way, we are good to go.”
Despite a loss to one of Pepperdine’s opponents in the same conference, swimmers like Haley Wilson left positive comments for future meets, including the PCSC Championships.
“[The LMU Lions] have a lot of depth, so in dual meet, they do really well against us,” said the sophomore swimmer, who contributed 27 points to Pepperdine during Saturday’s meet. “But in conference, only top scores count so we can beat them. And that’s our main goal.”
During Saturday’s meet, Wilson won the 200 free in a time of 1:56.79, the 100 free with 54.16 and the 200 IM (Individual Medley) in 2:13.00. Posting team-high 27 points in each of the past two meets, Wilson is now one of team leaders with junior Alison McLeod, the only swimmer who will compete at the NCAA Championships in March.
At Saturday’s meet, McLeod also captured a first place finish when she won the 100 fly with a time of 57.31 and placed second in the 100 back with 1:01.33.
Holding three school records – 100 fly, 100 back and 200 IM – and an individual ticket to the national championships for 100 fly, McLeod sets the team’s goal high: going to NCAA.
“It would be nice to have the 200 medley relay,” she said on qualifying to NCAA. If not, she wants other swimmers to make it to NCAA individually after this weekend’s meet, she added.
After this weekend’s double dual meet, conference is waiting the Waves. Telling himself and the team, “it’s all about conference,” throughout the season, Rodionoff said he is aware what he and his swimmers need to work on for this upcoming week.
“Now we have to realize that the Christmas break slowed us down a little bit, and then once we get a little rest and get emotionally set, we should swim faster than we have all year. And that’s the goal.”
Although conference may be the most important meet in the season, there still is one more double dual meet left, which will be at home Saturday. To swim their best at conference, the Waves need to win this final regular-season meet, Wilson said.
“We want to be swimming fast now because we are getting close to conference now so it’s not much training we can get in now,” she added.
The Waves conclude their regular season action Saturday when they host San Diego State and Cal Poly at noon. This meet will be the last home meet for senior swimmers and divers.
“We would love to have some support,” Wilson said.
01-25-2007
