LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State swimming and diving team travels to Houston for the WAC Swimming and Diving Championships on Wednesday.
"Our team and staff have put in a lot of time preparing for this week and in part this will be a celebration of their dedication and sacrifice," head coach Rick Pratt said. "This group is very special and I'm really proud of our preparations."
Picabo Bender come into the meet with the best time in the WAC on the 200-yard freestyle (1:50.05). She also has the third best time in the 500-yard freestyle as she clocked in at 4:55.46 this season. Bender is also third in the WAC in the 1650-yard freestyle with a best time of 17:03.21.
Lauren Wood currently holds the third best time in the WAC for the 200-yard breaststroke (2:14.05). Alix Knagg has the second best time for the 200-yard backstroke (1:59.66).
Natalie French is the lone senior competing for the Aggies. She comes into the meet with the fifth best time in the 1650-yard freestyle at 17:13.04.
In their last meet, the diving team had their best performance of the season in the 3-meter dive. Raina Brommer had the best finish as she sat in 8th place after the preliminary rounds with a score of 268.15. MacKinna Hauff scored 252.80 to finish 13th.
 "In the end we've got to remain focused on our details and balance the emotions associated with such a stressful competition." Pratt said. "It's going to be a war for the top spot and we're hoping to be in the mix."
The meet takes place with seven sessions over the course of four days. The first session starts at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday with the diving preliminaries.
