Is there anyone else on the Mesa State swimming team not named Kelly Hogan?
The answer is yes. In fact, there is a lot of talent on the men’s and women’s squads that have recently made them both successful.
Look at the women. We all know how much of a beast Hogan is in the pool. She’s always on the brink of making nationals and she deserves a lot of attention. But, the team is getting to a point where a few of the other girls deserve recognition, too.
Junior Katie Wedel is the reigning Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Week with four first place finishes and three second places last week in the Trinity University Western Shootout. She has won 13 races this season.
Junior Gina Panacci also helped the team place high in all competitions this year. A favorite of coach Brian Pearson’s, Panacci averaged a top-three finish in all her races this year.
The men have a guy who has already qualified nationally in diving. Four times this year freshman Brock Martin won the RMAC Diver of the Week award. Martin specialized in the one-and three-meter dive events.
Andy Gibbons is a threat every time he competes in the 200 breaststroke. He earned the RMAC Swimmer of the Week award just a month ago for the event. Sophomore Kent Stavrakas has helped set three medley school records this year and has also earned two RMAC awards.
With all the talent on the team, it’s no surprise that this weekend’s Mesa State Invite was televised, the first broadcast from El Pomar Natatorium. Also with the nice facility, big name schools and Division I schools like Air Force Academy like to come and compete in a place dedicated to swimmers. I can easily talk for days about how nice the new facility is, but what’s most important is that it brings recruitment to Mesa State. Pearson can easily bring talent from all over the country to the Grand Junction community.
With both men and women working hard all season long, they have made Mesa State history. Like last year, the team breaks team records every meet. The true proof of accomplishment is in the latest CollegeSwimming.com poll. The men, who’s first year was last year and still fairly young, is ranked number nine in the country. The ladies, who have been successful for quite awhile now, have their highest ranking ever, ranked fourth in the country.
I know swimming isn’t the most exciting sport to go to. But when a team wins, you can easily get into the swimming atmosphere inside the natatorium. When the Mavs host the RMAC Championships Feb. 10-12, the stands deserve to be filled at capacity with Mesa students. It’s not often you get to see your team win the conference championship at home.
u
ahimes@mesastate.edu