LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's swimming and diving team earned its first win of the season 143-76 over CSU-Pueblo on Saturday afternoon at the Swimming and Diving Complex. Senior divers Sheridan Decker and MacKinna Hauff qualified for NCAA Diving Zones.
 
"Today was fun, there wasn't that much pressure, but our girls still had the mindset to race 100% every race and that's what's important," said head coach Rick Pratt. "I thought their focus was good, we had some girls able to race some events that they don't normally race and that was really a positive experience for them as well."
 
The meet started with NM State's squad of Anabel Ivanov, Hanna McGowan, Reagan Nentwich and Lauren Hemburrow taking first in the 400 Medley relay with a time of 3:56.39. The Aggies' team of Lanie McAlpin, Lauren Wood, Katherine Harston and Neza Kocijan finished second in 3:59.59.
 
Grace Laporte (11:03.37), Mikaela Miele (11:14.20) and Lilly Aruajo (11:14.70) swept the podium in the 1000 Free.
 
In the 200 Free, Harston finished first in 1:58.05while Kocijan (1:59.33) and Moana Houde-Camirand (2:00.09) finished third and fourth respectively.
 
Then, Lindsey Muiznieks (25.31), Olivia Bender (25.37) and Aimee Hatfield (25.39) finished 2-3-4 in the 50 Free.
 
The 200 IM saw Hemburrow pick up the win for the Aggies with a time of 2:10.76. Lauren Wood (2:14.57) and Ashley Reynolds (2:15.09) finished second and third respectively.
 
In the 1m Dive, the Aggies' trio of Hauff (282.60), Decker (266.75) and Raina Brommer (199.65) swept the podium. Hauff's and Decker's scores were good enough to qualify them for NCAA Diving Zones in Flagstaff, Ariz on March 11-12.
 
Next, in the 100 Fly, Harston picked up another win with a time of 58.83. Rachel Langone and Muiznieks finished second and third respectively with times of 59.73 and 59.79.
 
The 100 Free saw Mackenzie Baird place second in 55.24, just behind the ThunderWolves' Phoebe Pontious who finished in 55.16. Natalia Villa (55.32) and Olivia Bender (55.61) finished third and fourth.
 
In the 200 Back, McAlpin (2:09.97), Barbora Krizanova (2:12.70) and Araujo (2:13.46) took first, second and third respectively.
 
The Aggie swept the podium again in the 500 Free with Ivanov finishing first in 5:11.79, Sina Wegel taking second in 5:21.25 and Houde-Camirand finishing third in 5:22.91.
 
"I thought in general, coming off a tough weekend in Colorado, the team responded well by really having an excellent week at practice and that showed today in our races," added Pratt "I think we're in a great spot moving forward and now we've got a good three weeks to get ready for Northern Arizona and I'm excited for that." 
 
New Mexico State is back in action as it hits the road to take on Northern Arizona on Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17, in a Western Athletic Conference meet in Flagstaff, Ariz.