GARRETT WAIT
Sports Editor
Pepperdine’s swimming and diving team cruised to a victory over Cal Poly, but fell to San Diego State University at the dual meet in San Luis Obispo, Calif., on Friday. The Waves’ victory over Cal Poly was their first of the young season.
The Waves captured five overall first places in events, including three by junior Ali McLeod, who took top honors in the 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke and 200-meter individual medley. Head Coach Nick Rodionoff said McLeod has been a rock for this year’s team.
“She’s a very versatile swimmer and actually in the last couple meets she hasn’t even been in her best event,” Rodionoff said. “I think she’s about ready to explode during conference.”
Joining McLeod on the podium were senior Nicole Okuna, who won the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter medley team of Okuna, and seniors Ketrina Lemmen, Lauren Velarde and Heather Brehmer.
Pepperdine couldn’t quite muster enough to beat San Diego State but were competing for the victory down to the last relay, according to Rodionoff.
“San Diego State’s a very good team,” Rodionoff said. “We had two swimmers come right out of their last event to swim that relay. I thought we really swam very strong. We basically beat Cal Poly by quite a lot. I think we’re ready for conference.”
The Pepperdine divers swept Cal Poly in the one-meter and three-meter events as senior Lindsay Stephens-Adarme led the way once again for the Waves.
Next, Pepperdine gets in the pool at the PCSC Championships, which Rodionoff said would be a real test for the Waves. However, the coach said he feels that if his girls have the right mindset, they can swim well.
“The main thing we look for here is personal bests,” Rodionoff said. “If everybody gets in the right mental attitude and are physically ready to go, if everybody swims seasonal best we’ll take the consequences which are usually very good. We can’t worry about what other teams are doing and how fast they’re swimming. We have to concentrate on each of our kids and if we do that, I think we’ll do fine.”
02-02-2006
