LINCOLN, Neb. – For the fifth time this season, the Washington State swim team claimed a dual meet victory, as it defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, 214-158. After holding a narrow two-point lead against their hosts Friday evening, the Cougars returned to the Bob Devaney Sports Center Natatorium Saturday morning to claim 10 first-place finishes in 12 events and secure a victory.
Saturday's win ensures the Cougar program will finish above .500 in dual meets for the first time since the 2010-11 season. The victory also marks the first time since the 2008-09 season Washington State has won five-straight dual meets.
The Cougars opened the morning with a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay. WSU's quartet of senior Alison Mand, junior Frederikke Hall, freshman Anna Brolin, and senior Nicole Proulx clocked a time of 1:44.29. Mand added a first-place finish in the 50 back with a time of 26.35.
In the 400 IM, junior Presley Wetterstrom grabbed the top spot, finishing in 4:27.98. Wetterstrom contributed 26 points to the WSU total, after claiming a first-place finish in the 200 breast Friday evening. Wetterstrom also finished third in the 100 breast, less than 0.25 seconds behind Hall in second (1:06.23). Hall garnered a first-place finish of her own, clocking a time of 30.66 in the 50 breast.
Freshman Rachel Thompson displayed her speed, claiming first-place finishes in both the 200 free and 500 free, Saturday. In the 200 free, the Santa Ana, Calif., native led the way with a time of 1:52.92, followed closely by Proulx in second (1:53.05). Proulx picked up a victory in the dual, finishing first in the 100 free (51.73).
In the 500 free, four Cougars finished in the top five. Thompson clocked a time of 5:02.75 for a first-place finish followed by sophomores Kendra Griffin in second (5:05.05), Elise Locke in third (5:05.70), and Emma Elhoff in fifth (5:14.13). Washington State also swept the 1650 free in Friday's events led by Griffin, Thompson, and Elhoff, respectively.
Junior Loree Olson took first place in the 100 back, touching the wall in 57.03. Freshman Hannah Bruggman and sophomore Haley Rose Love finished third and fourth, respectively. Love also sprinted to a first-place finish in the 50 fly, clocking a time of 25.62.
The Cougars closed the two-day dual with a first-place finish in the 200 free relay. Washington State's team of Mand, Proulx, Love, and Bruggman finished over two seconds ahead of Nebraska top team, with a time of 1:33.16.
WSU concludes its dual season, Friday, Feb. 13 against the University of Utah. The Cougars will host the Utes at Gibb Pool at 5 p.m. where the first 200 fans will receive a free Cougar beanie.
