FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The New Mexico State swimming and diving team fell to Western Athletic Conference rival Northern Arizona over three sessions at the Lumberjack Invitational on Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17.
 
Session three consisted of the 200 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 200 Fly, 50 Free, 200 IM and the 400 Free relay.
 
"We have a lot to be proud of despite the loss.  Racing in flagstaff is not for the faint of heart and I thought we prepared and competed up her with a lot of grit," said head coach Rick Pratt.  "We had some great swims and have much to look forward to moving forward.  Our relays were very strong and we had a several best times up here, which is very tough to do.  We've got to get a couple people back healthy, but over all we're in a great place moving forward."
 
In the day's first race, the 200 Free, freshman Anabel Ivanov was the top finisher for the Aggies with a time of 1:53.67.  Grace Laporte (1:54.34) and Lauren Hemburrow (1:55.58) finished fifth and seventh respectively.
 
After winning the 200 Back during the first session yesterday, Reagan Nentwich notched a victory in the 100 Back with a time of 56.56. Lanie McAlpin finished fifth at 59.44 while Ivanov (1:00.32) placed seventh and Makena Sutherland (1:00.50) eighth.
 
Next, Hanna McGowan picked up another win for New Mexico State in the next race when she placed first in the 100 Breast at 1:02.17. Teammate Ashley Reynolds finished second with a time of 1:03.01 while Lauren Wood finished just off the podium in fourth at 1:04.04. Barbora Krizanova finished fifth with a time 1:04.68.
 
In the 200 Fly Nentwich (2:07.19) finished third while Katherine Harston touched fifth at 2:07.75. Then, in the 50 Free Neza Kocijan placed second with a time of 23.63 while Olivia Bender, Airam olive Aun and Laporte finished in a three-way tie for fifth place with times of 24.30.
 
The 200 IM saw Krizanova place second at 2:07.18 with Wood 2:09.20), Hemburrow (2:11.15) and Reynolds (2:12.11) finishing fourth, seventh and eighth respectively. In the final race of the day, the 400 Free relay, the New Mexico State squad of Kocijan, Laporte, Ivanov and Sina Wegel touched second at 3:28.94.  Hemburrow, Airam-Aun, Lindsey Muiznieks and Krizanova placed third with a time of 3:32.51.
 
NM State's MacKinna Hauff, Raina Brommer and Sheridan Decker competed in the 1m event today after competing in the 3m yesterday. In the preliminary, Hauff rode a strong performance to a third-place position going into finals with a score of 268.50. Decker (214.80) and Brommer (213.60) were in 10^th and 11^th respectively after the preliminary round.
 
Hauff had another solid set of dives in the final round, however, she finished at third with a score of 526.45. Brommer also moved up and finished eighth with a score of 461.00 as did Decker, who finished ninth with a score of 461.00.
 
"The divers dove well this morning. They were a little tired from 3 meter yesterday, but MacKinna has two strong, consistent lists in prelims and finals," said diving coach Miranda King. "Raina and Sheridan are working on the details of their dives which I am very happy about. If they can get those details consistent then they will be up in the top of the pack as well. A third place finish for MacKinna was fantastic, and Raina and Sheridan both moved up spots from where they finished prelims. Overall it was a great morning on 1 meter.  Tomorrow morning we will compete in our first platform event of the season and I am looking forward to a strong list from all three girls."
 
The NM State swimming and diving team is back in action when it travels to take on WAC-newcomer California Baptist in Riverside, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 15.