FRESNO, Calif. (October 7, 2023) – Washington State Swimming opened their season finishing third at Fresno State Invite after tallying five wins during the final day of competition Saturday.
 
In Saturday's eight swimming events, the Cougars finished in the Top-3 seven times including wins in the 400 free relay, the 1650 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and 400 free relay.
 
"Today was a great third session, we competed with a lot of energy, had a lot of success and it was an impressive effort by the whole team. Mira swam great in the mile, Kiana delivered a good performance in the backstroke and Madison Parker had a really impressive performance for a freshman," Head Coach Matt Leach said. "We closed the weekend with a big win the 400 free relay, beating UCLA and San Diego State, so we are very excited about our relays. Overall it was a really good weekend for us, we ended up third but if you take the diving points (WSU does not have diving) then we would have been the second. We were the second-fastest team at the pool this week, our team swam with great energy and a great attitude and we can't wait to be back at Gibb Pool to host UCLA next Friday."
 
WSU opened the day with its 400 medley relay of Anna Rauchholz, Emily Lundgren, Dori Hathazi and Madison Parker finishing second, half a second behind UCLA. Freshman Mira Szimcsak later picked up her first collegiate win, claiming the 1650 free by nearly 30 seconds.
 
Midway through the morning, junior Kiana Swain placed third in the 200 backstroke and freshman Madison Parker finished three-tenths of second behind the winner of in the 100 free before Emily Lundgren won the 200 breast. In the 200 fly, Hathazi claimed the event with Sam Krew close behind in sixth. WSU closed the day with a win in the 400 free relay by Noelle Harvey, Krew, Hathazi and Parker.
 
The Cougars return home to host UCLA next Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Gibb Pool.