LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State swimming and diving team lost its season-opening meet to Western Athletic Conference rival Northern Colorado, 162-136, on Saturday afternoon at the Swimming and Diving Complex.
 

🎥 | We caught up with head coach Rick Pratt after this afternoon's season-opening meet.#AggieUp pic.twitter.com/unKEuzzaXD

— NM State Swim & Dive (@NMStateSwimDive) October 5, 2019

The meet began with the Bears just out-touching NM State in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 145:08 to the Aggies' 1:45.52. The Bears took the top three spots in the 1000 Free before Neza Kocijan picked up a win in the 200 Free with a time of 1:55.97. Anabel Ivanov then followed that up with a win of her own in the 100 Back (58.70).
 
However, Northern Colorado finished first in the 100 Breast, 200 Fly, 50 Free and 100 Free. Then, Ivanov nearly notched her second win of the afternoon in the 200 Back (2:07.29) but was edged out by UNC's Paula Nunez (2:07.05).
 
The Bears then strung together first-place finishes in the 200 Breast and 500 Free before freshman Rachel Ponte picked up her first collegiate victory in the 100 Fly with a time of 57.48, just ahead of the Bears' Madelyn Moore (57.88).
 
After UNC won the 200 IM, the Aggies wrapped up the meet with an impressive performance in the 400 Free Relay from Aimee Burton, Airam Oliva-Aun, Ivanov and Kocijan whose time of 3:30.87 was nearly six seconds faster than UNC's second-place squad (3:30.87).
 
The diving events saw a dominant performance from freshman Italia Aranzabal who finished first in the 3m with a score of 264.60, 40 points ahead of second-place Lilly Ellis (220.43). Aranzabal also finished first in the 1m, beating out Northern Colorado's Celeste Llona 239.85-235.87.
 
The Aggies return to the pool when they host Wyoming on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11:30 a.m. (MT) at the Swimming and Diving Complex. As always, all NM state swimming and diving meets are free to attend.