Baker Geist
Sports Reporter

It was a season of accomplishments for the Mesa State College swimming program.
The women’s team finished in first place in five meets this season, earned national attention being ranked as highly as #19 by the College Coaches Association poll at the end of the fall season and finished in fourth place at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend.
In its first year competing the men’s team also had success amidst the learning curve that comes with inexperience swimming at the college level. Freshman Scott Strehlow, who placed fifth in the 100-yard freestyle, was just one of the examples of the effort put forth by the Mavericks, despite finishing last as a team in the RMAC Championships.
This year’s results are not at all bad in Pearson’s eyes. Since his arrival in 2006, he has worked on forming a cohesive swim team and done it while not having a regulation size pool to practice in.
A lot’s changed in four years. The Mavericks now call the Olympic sized El Pomar Natatorium home and Pearson believes both the men’s and women’s teams are starting to get noticed for their strong performances in the water.
“When I started we didn’t really have a team,” Pearson said. “We’ve definitely earned some attention and turned some heads.”
Helping to turn heads was the Mesa State women’s team. At the RMAC Championships, a number of swimmers had success. Mesa State sophomore Jaclyn McMillen finished second in the 100-yard backstroke while Kelli Hogan won the 1,000-yard freestyle. Hogan took home RMAC co-freshman of the year honors for her effort.
Sophomore Katie Wedel also finished strong, coming in second in the 400 individual medley.
“Coach is very good at tapering us. We were rested which helps. Championships just have a different atmosphere than meets. Your adrenaline is up,” Wedel said when asked how the team performed so strongly.
Wedel’s also finished first in the 200 individual medley and was named All-RMAC in the event. She was awarded second team honors in the 400 individual medley.
She also said the team will be stronger next season, given that “we held our own with some of the top teams (in the conference).”
McMillen was named first and second team All-RMAC in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke. Maverick swimmers Rebecca Reed, Rachael Bailey, Denby Gardiner, Sarah Hagerstrom, Gina Panacci all earned RMAC third team honors in their respective events.
The men’s performance at the championships looked bad on paper, but there was a strong showing by Mesa State’s relay team. Besides Strehlow’s individual performance, Dan MacDonald, Travis Pahler, Justin Skall, and Strehlow swam to a fifth place finish in both the 800-yard freestyle. Freshman Eric Flemming helped the team to a fifth place finish in the 200-yard freestyle.
“I think we did well,” Strehlow said of his team’s performance. “It took a lot of work but we pulled it together.”
Pearson said the team’s fifth place finish is not indicative of how well his team performed.
“Everyone scored in their events in the meet. Now we have a foundation and we’re going be strong next year,” Pearson said.
Because of redshirting and other issues, the men’s team competed with just six swimmers, while other teams competed with 17 or 18.
“They did great,” Pearson said.
He also said that had Mesa had a full team at the championships, the results would’ve been different.
With the swimming season over, both teams are focusing on next season. Pearson believes both teams can improve and plans on using momentum gained this year to shape the future.
Both teams are young as there is only one senior on the men’s and women’s team combined, leaving a lot of potential for both teams.
Potential that has Pearson excited.
“We’re going to keep on building. Our depth is going to be great next year,” Pearson said.
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bgeist@mesastate.edu