Washington State University Athletics

Complete Stories & Daily Recaps:
February 25
February 26
February 27

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Senior Katie Keller tied her own school record in the 50-yard freestyle Thursday night with a time of 23.59 seconds at the Pac-10 Championships at the King County Aquatic Center.

The Seattle, Wash. native qualified for consolation finals after finishing 15th in preliminaries with a 23.76 performance. Both times marked season bests, while the 23.59 time tied a career best in the event. Keller tied for 10th in the consolation round.

"Overall, I believe Katie was successful and her time indicates that she has speed," WSU assistant coach Alicia Hicken said. "I think she will have a better 100 freestyle time later on this week and it will be a better indicator of what kind of an athlete she is."

A previous school record of 3:49.82 in the 400-medley relay was also rewritten as the team of Anna Hohmann (Wodonga, Australia), Erin Eldridge (Kirkland, Wash.), Sarah Ewan (Colville, Wash.) and Keller finished the event with a time of 3:46.99. Hohmann, a specialist in the backstroke, also captured a school record in the opening leg of the event.

In preliminary competition, junior Gretchen Chambers (Adelaide, Australia) posted a career and season best time during Heat 2 of the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:02.65. Senior Liz Hohaia (Lacey, Wash.) also marked a career best in the 50 freestyle with her time of 25.39.

"The first day went adequately well and we are closing the gap," WSU coach Rocco Aceto said. "But, we are still far from coming up from the basement."

The Cougars continue conference competition through Saturday, Feb. 27.

TEAM SCORING -
1, Stanford, 485.  2, California, 345.  3, Arizona, 344.5.  4, Southern
Cal, 321.  5, UCLA, 246.5.  6. Washington, 142.5.  7, Arizona State, 117.
8, Washington State, 104.5.  9, Oregon State, 84. 
(All distances in yards)

PRELIMINARIES -
500 Freestyle - 27, Gretchen Chambers (WSU), 5:02.65. 
200 Individual Medley - 27, Kelley Miedema (WSU), 2:07.05.  31, Katie
Leidel (WSU), 2:07.58.  45, Carrie Breed (WSU), 2:24.17. 
50 Freestyle - 15, Katie Keller (WSU), 23.76.  T31, Jessica Chisholm
(WSU), 24.31.  39, Sarah Ewan (WSU), 24.78.  45, Wendy Enderle (WSU),
25.00.  50, Liz Hohaia (WSU), 25.39.  53, Suzie Muirhead (WSU), 26.05. 

CONSOLATION FINALS -
50 Freestyle - T10, Katie Keller (WSU), 23.59.

FINALS -
200 Freestyle Relay - 1, CAL (A), 1:31.47.  2, UA (A), 1:31.94.  7, WSU
(A), 1:36.21. 
400 Medley Relay - 1, Stanford (A), 3:36.30.  2, CAL (A), 3:40.92.  7, WSU
(A), 3:46.99.

200 Freestyle Relay -
Cougars Katie Keller, Jessica Chisholm, Sarah Ewan, and Katie Leidel combined to capture a season-best time in the event with a 1:36.21.

500 Freestyle -
Junior Gretchen Chambers posted a lifetime best with a time of 5:02.65 during preliminary competition. The Adelaide, Australia native swam the fourth fastest time for a Cougar in the event.

200 Individual Medley -
Junior Kelley Miedema finished 27th for the Cougars with a 2:07.05 that marked a season best time for the native of Cape Town, South Africa.

50 Freestyle -
Katie Keller claimed a spot in the consolation final to finish tied for 10th with a school record-tying 23.59 outing.

400 Medley Relay -
Cougars Anna Hohmann, Erin Eldridge, Sarah Ewan, and Katie Keller eclipsed another school record by finishing 3:46.99 in the 400-medley relay. The same squad rewrote the 400 medley relaty record last season at the Pac-10's in Long Beach, Calif. with a 2:49.82.

Quote of the Day -
"The money was in the bank and I cashed in the check," said Liz Hohaia who registered a lifetime best in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.39.

Daily Grind -
The Cougars began their day with a wake-up swim at 7:15 a.m. The earlybirds had an invigorating workout in the King County Aquatic Center and later enjoyed a healthy breakfast at a local eatery where they met Cougar fans who rooted them on.. By the afternoon, Wazzu was back in the water again for preliminaries in the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, and 50 freestyle. Then it was off to lunch and time refuel for the evening events. The Cougars kept on meeting WSU alumni amongst the Huskies' training room staff who provided massages for the swimmers during finals competition. Jessica Chisholm's second cousin, Nathaniel also made an appearance on deck to boost the Cougs' spirits.

February 26, 1999

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Junior Erin Eldridge will make her second trip to the NCAA Championships after automatically qualifying for the 100-yard breaststroke with a school record breaking time of 1 minute 2.19 seconds during the Pac-10 Championships at the King County Aquatic Center Friday.

Last season, the Kirkland, Wash. native became the first Cougar in 21 years to capture a postseason berth competing in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events. Eldridge will travel to Athens, Georgia March 18-20. Her third place finish in the event is the highest any Cougar has ever placed at Pac-10s.

"It took off a lot of pressure getting it out of the way early," said Eldridge on her early qualification during preliminaries. "It was a special moment."

Overall, the Cougars broke six school records at the conference meet. Washington State's 200-medley relay team of Anna Hohmann (Wodonga, Australia), Eldridge, Sarah Ewan (Colville, Wash.), and Katie Keller (Seattle, Wash.) posted an NCAA consideration time with a mark of 1:44.19.

The 800 freestyle relay team of Keller, Gretchen Chambers (Adelaide, Australia), Kelley Miedema (Cape Town, South Africa), and Katie Leidel (Round Rock, Texas) surpassed one of the oldest remaining school records set back in 1993 with a 7:35.79. Keller also set a school record in the 200 freestyle with a 1:50.49 opening leg time in the event.

"We had a lot of breakthroughs," WSU assistant coach Alicia Hicken said. "We had a really good day and good races. Having people comeback and make finals - that is showing we are getting more experience."

Junior Kelley Miedema eclipsed her own school record in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:27.82 in preliminary action. Miedema later recorded her second best lifetime mark with a time of 4:27.29 in consolation finals. Teammate Anna Hohmann also surpassed her own school record time in the 100 backstroke with a 57.14.

The Cougars are in eighth after two days of competition with 259.50 points. The Pac-10 Championships come to a close Saturday, Feb. 27.

TEAM SCORING -
1, Stanford, 1062.  2, California, 841.  3, Southern Cal, 778.  4,
Arizona, 739.50.  5, UCLA, 597.50.  6, Arizona State, 388.  7, Washington,
324.50.  8, Washington State, 259.50.  9, Oregon State, 169. 
(All distances in yards)

PRELIMINARIES -
400 Individual Medley - 15, Kelley Miedema (WSU), 4:27.82.  17, Julie Thom
(WSU), 4:31.59.  25, Aimee Walters (WSU), 4:40.46.  28, Carrie Breed
(WSU), 5:04.84. 
100 Butterfly - 35, Anna Hohmann (WSU), 58.79.  36, Sarah Ewan (WSU),
59.17.  40, Aimee Walters (WSU), 1:02.64. 
200 Freestyle - 31, Gretchen Chambers (WSU), 1:54.84.
100 Breaststroke - 2, Erin Eldridge (WSU), 1:02.19.  14, Jessica Chisholm
(WSU), 1:05.40.  18, Katie Leidel (WSU), 1:05.69. 
100 Backstroke - 20, Anna Hohmann (WSU), 57.24. 25, Wendy Enderle (WSU),
58.64.  27, Eli Schmied (WSU), 58.74.  31, Liz Hohaia (WSU), 59.00.  37,
Suzie Muirhead (WSU), 1:01.95. 

BONUS CONSOLATION - 
400 Individual Medley - 20, Julie Thom (WSU), 4:31.36.
100 Breaststroke - 18, Katie Leidel (WSU), 1:05.55.
100 Backstroke - 19, Anna Hohmann (WSU), 57.14.

CONSOLATION FINALS -
400 Individual Medley - 14, Kelley Miedema (WSU), 4:27.29.
100 Breaststroke - 15, Jessica Chisholm (WSU), 1:05.86.

FINALS -
100 Breaststroke -  1, Elin Austevoll (STAN), 1:01.01.  2, Kristen
MacGregor (USC), 1:01.57.  3, Erin Eldridge (WSU), 1:02.20.
200 Medley Relay - 1, Stanford (A), 1:39.84.  2, CAL (A), 1:41.02.  7, WSU
(A), 1:44.19. 
800 Freestyle Relay - 1, Stanford (A), 7:11.51.  2, UA (A), 7:13.16.  8,
WSU (A), 7:35.79.

200 Medley Relay -
With the first event of the night, the Cougar team of Anna Hohmann, Erin Eldridge, Sarah Ewan, and Katie Keller came out strong posting an NCAA consideration time of 1:44.19 in the 200-medley relay, which also marked a school record.

400 Individual Medley -
Junior Kelley Miedema continued to surpass her school and lifetime record in the 400 IM. In the consolation finals the Cape Town, South Africa native posted a 4:27.29. Senior Julie Thom (Portland, Ore.) made the bonus consolation round and posted a lifetime best of 4:31.36 in the event. Senior Aimee Walters (Walla Walla, Wash.) posted a 4:40.46 in preliminaries to be named a bonus consolation first alternate. Walters also swam head-to-head with former classmate at Walla Walla High School Kerrie Spanish of UW.

100 Butterfly -
Seniors Anna Hohmann, Aimee Walters, and Sarah Ewan (Colville, Wash.) competed in the 100 butterfly. Hohmann finished with a 58.79, Ewan 59.17, and Walters 1:02.64.

200 Freestyle -
Junior Gretchen Chambers was the lone Cougar entrant in the 200 freestyle. The Adelaide, Australia native went 1:54.84 to mark a season best.

100 Breaststroke -
Junior Erin Eldridge continues to make history. The Kirkland, Wash. native clocked in an NCAA automatic qualifying time in the 100 breaststroke with a school record breaking time of 1:02.19. She also placed third in finals to claim the Cougars' highest Pac-10 Championships individual finish. Eldridge was presented her third place trophy by WSU coach Rocco Aceto on the medal stand. The Cougars dominated all three heats for the event in preliminary action. Senior Jessica Chisholm (Concord, Calif.) and freshman Katie Leidel (Round Rock, Texas) also finished in the top 24 making consolation final rounds.

100 Backstroke -
Senior Anna Hohmann (Wodonga, Australia) reset a school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.14 seconds in the bonus consolation round.

800 Freestyle Relay -
The Cougars took aim at one of the oldest school records still remaining on the big board in Gibb Pool held by former swimmers Jill Glatt, Shelly Hart, Jenny Widell, and Jennifer Larson since 1993. The team comprised of Katie Keller, Gretchen Chambers, Kelley Miedema, and Katie Leidel completed a 7:35.79 time to erase the 6-year-old record. Senior Katie Keller broke the 200 freestyle school record, after going 1:50.49 in the opening leg of the event.

Quotes of the Day -
"Dream, Believe, Create, Succeed." - Washington State Swimming Motto

"Can I get some watah?" asked Kelley Miedema with an accent that even the waitress at breakfast couldn't understand.

Daily Grind -
The Cougars encounter yet another early wake-up day to invigorate themselves for the seven events on tap. The swimmers are also giddy about their secret sister gift exchange throughout the day - some receive gag gifts and trinkets for the meet. Senior Associate Athletic Director Marcia Saneholtz also arrives in Federal Way to cheer on the Cougs along with parents, siblings, boyfriends, and of course - Coug fans on the West Side of the state. During the van rides to the Aquatic Center, the Rocky theme song "Eye of the Tiger" is a favorite among the swimmers to pump them up for the night's events. The Cougars break six school records in the 800 freestyle relay, 200-medley relay, 400 IM, 100 breaststroke, 200 freestyle, and 100 backstroke throughout the course of the day.

February 27, 1999

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Junior Erin Eldridge clocked in another NCAA automatic time in the 200-yard breaststroke with a new school record time of 2 minutes, 13.54 seconds in preliminary competition during the Pac-10 Championships at the King County Aquatic Center Saturday.

The Kirkland, Wash. native turned in an NCAA automatic time in the 100 breaststroke Friday and will return in both events for the NCAA Championships in Athens, Georgia March 18-20. Eldridge could possibly become the Cougars' first All-American. The top 8 at NCAAs qualify for this prestigious recognition.

"Erin made two automatic times which is incredible," WSU coach Rocco Aceto said. "If you are in the finals in the Pac-10s, you are in one of the fastest finals in the world. There is no room for error. You are up against the best in the world."

Senior Katie Keller finished out a spectacular Cougar career at Pac-10s, breaking four school records in the 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and in two relay teams. She still remains the only Cougar to hold the most school records.

In the 200 backstroke, senior Anna Hohmann and junior Kelley Miedema moved on to the bonus consolation round. Hohmann, a native of Wodonga, Australia, finished out her Cougar career with a school record breaking mark of 2:02.83 in preliminaries. Miedema completed bonus consolation with a 2:04.12.

The Cougars eclipsed 10 school records over the three-day competition and finished eighth with 372.50 points. No. 3 Stanford won their 13th Pac-10 Championship with 1553 points.

"We shattered 10 school records, scored the most points ever at the Pac-10 Championships, have one of the fastest breaststrokers in the country - in essence one of the fastest in the world," Aceto said. "We also had our first medallist and everybody swam a lifetime best time."

"It is amazing to see how far we have come in two years. It's incredible. People are noticing it and we hit every goal we needed to meet at this meet."

TEAM SCORING -
1, Stanford, 1553.  2, Southern Cal, 1177.50.  3, California, 1155.50.  4,
Arizona, 1136.50.  5, UCLA, 856.50.  6, Arizona State, 634.50.  7,
Washington, 456.50.  8, Washington State, 372.50.  9, Oregon State,
229.50. 
(All distances in yards)

PRELIMINARIES -
200 Backstroke - 17, Anna Hohmann (WSU), 2:02.83.  21, Kelley Miedema
(WSU), 2:03.54.  27, Wendy Enderle (WSU), 2:06.83.  29, Eli Schmied (WSU),
2:07.38.  36, Liz Hohaia (WSU), 2:12.98.
100 Freestyle - 11, Katie Keller (WSU), 51.26.  28, Jessica Chisholm
(WSU), 53.55.  36, Sarah Ewan (WSU), 55.55.  37, Suzie Muirhead (WSU),
55.90.  38, Eli Schmied (WSU), 55.92. 
200 Breaststroke - 2, Erin Eldridge (WSU), 2:13.54.  20, Katie Leidel
(WSU), 2:23.28.
200 Butterfly - 28, Julie Thom (WSU), 2:11.69.  30, Aimee Walters (WSU),
2:14.55.

BONUS CONSOLATION - 
200 Backstroke - 18, Anna Hohmann (WSU), 2:02.87.  23, Kelley Miedema
(WSU), 2:04.12.
100 Breaststroke - 21, Katie Leidel (WSU), 2:22.04.

CONSOLATION FINALS -
100 Freestyle - 11, Katie Keller (WSU), 50.89.

FINALS -
1650 Freestyle -  1, Trina Jackson (UA), 16:20.50.  2, Lisa Murray (CAL),
16:24.60.  18, Gretchen Chambers (WSU), 17:24.02.  19, Julie Thom (WSU),
17:26.99.  24, Carrie Breed (WSU), 19:11.47.
200 Breaststroke - 1, Elin Austevoll (STAN), 2:11.51.  2, Riley Mants
(ASU), 2:12.87.  5, Erin Eldridge (WSU), 2:14.90.
400 Freestyle Relay - 1, California (A), 3:17.66.  2, Stanford (A),
3:18.70.  8, WSU (A), 3:29.33.

1650 Freestyle -
Junior Gretchen Chambers, senior Julie Thom, and sophomore Carrie Breed endure the long mile event. They arrive to the Aquatic Center before 6 p.m. to begin their races. Chambers, a native of Adelaide, Australia, finishes 18th with a 17:24.02, which marks a season and lifetime best. Thom finishes 19th (17:26.99) and Breed 24th (19:11.47).

200 Backstroke -
Senior Anna Hohmann and junior Kelley Miedema qualify for the bonus consolation round of the 200 backstroke. Hohmann, a native of Wodonga, Australia, posted a school record breaking time of 2:02.83 in the preliminaries. She would finish 18th, while teammate Miedema 23rd with a 2:04.12 in the bonus.

100 Freestyle -
Senior Katie Keller moved on to the consolation finals after missing her school record by a mere four hundredths of a second. A native of Seattle, Wash., Keller posted a 50.89 placing 11th in consolations.

200 Breaststroke -
Junior Erin Eldridge posted yet another NCAA automatic time in the 200 breaststroke. The native of Kirkland, Wash. came out early in preliminaries with a 2:13.54. She finished fifth in the finals with a 2:14.90.

200 Butterfly -
Senior Julie Thom of Portland, Ore. Finished 28th in the 200 butterfly with a 2:11.69.

400 Freestyle Relay -
A false start interrupted the Cougars in Heat 2 of the 400 freestyle relay. Washington State still finished sixth with a 3:29.33.

Quote of the Day -
"We had a lot of breakthroughs," WSU coach Rocco Aceto said.

Daily Grind -
It's the last day of competition and the last chance to post fast times. The swimmers head out to their early morning warm-up swim and look forward to the day ahead. At breakfast, WSU coach Rocco Aceto expresses his love of fatherhood. He makes everyone smile with his impressions of his 8-month-old baby boy Giovanni. Everyone can tell he misses him after four days in Federal Way and what were Giovanni's first words? Not "Papa" - but "Mama". The Cougars' fan base increases Saturday night with family and friends in attendance for support. Before finals, the Pac-10 recognizes all graduating seniors from each of the nine schools with a pool side ceremony. Washington State seniors Jessica Chisholm, Wendy Enderle, Sarah Ewan, Liz Hohaia, Anna Hohmann, Katie Keller, Julie Thom, and Aimee Walters represent the Cougars on deck with an exchange of hugs and flowers from coach Aceto. The team celebrates their school record breaking performance at Pac-10s with a dinner banquet after the meet. Now, it's time to head home tomorrow...

Television Notes -
Fox Sports Northwest will rebroadcast the final day of competition Thursday, March 4 at 1 p.m.