LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State swimming and diving head coach Rick Pratt released the Aggies' 2019-20 schedule on Monday. NM State hosts four meets at the NM State Swimming and Diving Complex and hits the road for four more with two diving-only contests.
 
"This season's schedule gives us a lot of challenges and opportunities to prepare for WAC and the post season," said Pratt. "We have a bunch of new athletes again, and giving them chances to progress through the year is important while competing as a team.  We've got some tough early home meets which we'll have to be ready for in a phase of our training were we're still figuring things out, so that is always challenging."
 
NM State opens the season with its annual Crimson and White inter-squad meet on Sept. 25 before it opens the regular-season on Oct. 5 with a visit from Western Athletic Conference foe Northern Colorado. The Aggies stay home for a meet against Wyoming on Nov. 2 before they hit the road to take on GCU and Air Force in Phoenix (Nov. 8-9).
 
New Mexico State returns to the City of Crosses for a contest with defending WAC Champion Northern Arizona on Nov. 22-23 while the Aggie divers compete at the Houston Invite from Nov. 21-23. NM State closes its fall slate when it travels to San Antonio to take on UIW (Dec. 16).
 
After winter break, the Aggies host CSU Pueblo at the NM State Swimming and Diving Complex on Jan. 4. New Mexico State's divers then make the trip to the City of Angels for the UCLA Diving Invite from Jan. 17^th-19^th. Following the UCLA Diving Invite, the Aggies head north to compete against Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico on Jan. 25 before wrapping up the regular-season on the road at Idaho in a WAC contest (Feb. 7).
 
"Our meets in the spring will be able to give us those final tests, and overall we have many opportunities to compete and develop, Pratt added. "With so many new faces it's going to be an exciting time for our program and we are excited for another historic year."
 
The Aggies won three dual meets, the Lancer Invite and finished second at WAC Championships last season with Alix Knagg taking home the WAC Championship in the 200 Back (1:57.88). Rick Pratt was also named WAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time while MacKinna Hauff and Raina Brommer both competed at NCAA Diving Zones.
 
Meet the Newcomers
 
Carli Baldwin
Temecula, Calif.
Major:  Business
 
"Carli is a very talented swimmer who will make an immediate impact and it is exciting to land another great swimmer from that area of southern California," Pratt said. "She is a tremendous student and energetic lady.  She is going to be fun to have on our team and has the potential contribute at the highest level."
 
Events: 100 Back (55.58y), 100 fly (55.84y), 50 Free (23.91y), 100 Free (51.81y).
 
Molly Hill
Kelowna, British Colombia, Canada
Major: Biology
 
"We feel very fortunate to have stumbled upon Molly during the recruiting process," said Pratt. "She is a tall and athletic talent who has the work ethic and character to be a huge find for our team in many ways.  She has great skills and with a little more strength and experience has the potential to be incredible.   She is also very versatile and will be a great addition to our line-up."
 
Events: 100 Fly (1:03.85LCM), 200 Fly (2:20.06LCM), 200 Back (2:14.41SHC), 400 IM (5:05.07LCM).
 
Skylar Welle
New Prague, Minn.
Major: Kinesiology
 
"This is another great find for our team. Skylar is a smart and outgoing lady who we are thrilled to have join our group," Pratt said. "Besides her breastroke skills she is very versatile and will be a strong IMer, backstroker and freestyler and we are very excited to see how she will develop.  She has the potential to contribute in many ways, in and out of the pool." 
 
Events: 100 Breast (1:04.44y), 200 Breast (2:22.55y), 100 back (57.55y), 200 IM (2:07.73y)
 
Rachel Ponte 
Saint Charles, Ill.
Major: Kinesiology
 
"Rachel is a strong and athletic lady who we feel very fortunate to have committed," said Pratt. "She is another great student and fun person to be around.  She will help us immediately in the breastroke and fly events and will also be another strong freestyler individually and for our relays."
 
Events: 100 Breast (1:05.25y), 50 Free (24.20y), 100 fly (56.98y)
 
Aimee Burton
Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Major: Chemical Engineering
 
"Aimee is an incredible student who could have studied anywhere, and we feel very fortunate that her passion for competing and studying engineering lead her to our program," Pratt said. "She has a tone of potential, and had a very good senior year in the pool.  She is going to be a great student athlete for us."
 
Events: 50 Free (23.45y), 100 Free (51.64y), 100 Fly (56.71y), 200 Fly (2:04.45y), 100 Breast (1:05.36y)
 
Chloe Garcia
Vail, Ariz.
Major: Biology
 
"Chloe is another tremendous student and dedicated swimmer and we are very excited to have committed a swimmer from the Tucson area," said Pratt. "Chloe has the personality and abilities to be very successful with our team.  She has the potential to be a very strong breastroker for us and we can't wait to work with her."  
 
Events: 100 Breast (1:07.13y), 200 Breast (2:18.26y)
 
Ayanah Cason
Las Vegas, Nev.
Major:  Mathematics
 
"We are very excited about Ayanah joining our team in the fall. Her swimming is on the rise and she has the athletic ability to be great, and an attitude that will make an amazing team-mate.  She has a lot of potential and will be another impactful breastroker and IMer for us."
 
Events:  100 Breast (1:04.09y), 200 Breast (2:20.89y), 200 IM (2:06.48y)
 
Kiersten Valdez
El Paso, Texas
Major: Undeclared
 
"Kiersten is a talented athlete who played volleyball before committing to swim and despite being young to the sport has a lot of potential," said Pratt. "She is explosive in the water, has good technique, and is a great student and a kind person.  She is a great fit for our team and I am excited to have another swimmer from El Paso choose to stay close to home.  We can't wait to coach her."
 
Events:  50 Free (24.93y), 100 Back (59.04y), 100 Fly (58.15y)
 
Jordan Andrusak
Previous School: Bowling Green
Victoria, British Colombia, Canada
Major:  Biology
 
"We have not had many transfers and when Jordan became an option, we were excited to get to know her again after recruiting her when she was a senior in high school.  She is very talented and has the potential to help us in a big way.  She swims many things well and has a desire to be great.  We are very excited to see what her future will be with our program."
 
Events:  200 Breast (2:16.53y), 200 IM (2:00.72y), 400 IM (4:19.84y)
 
Maude Boily-Dufour
Previous School: San Diego State
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Major:  French, Education
 
"We are really excited that Maude choose to continue her studies as an Aggie.  She has very competitive Long Course swims and the potential to be a huge contributor to our team.  She comes from a small club and succeeded in a very unique setting.  We are expecting that our team atmosphere is a good fit for her to continue to develop.  Besides being a very strong backstroker, she has a great fly and potential with her freestyle as well.  She will make an immediate impact in many ways."
 
Events:  100 Back (55.13y), 200 Back (2:01.38y), 100 Fly (55.34y)
 
Italia Aranzabal
Mexico City, Mexico
Potential Major: Civil Engineering
 
"I am very excited to welcome Italia to our team," said diving coach Miranda King. "She will bring a level of difficulty to our team that will help her to stand out in the WAC. She is coming with national team experience which will bring a new level to the culture of our team. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to coach her and see what she will be able to accomplish as an Aggie,"
 
Events: Diving
 
Lilly Ellis
Friendswood, Texas
Potential Major: Psychology
 
"I'm really excited to have Lily joining our team," said King. "She is coming to the Aggies with a lot of potential and heart for the sport.  She had a stellar career as a gymnast for 12 years before transitioning into diving.  She is a hard worker and has a great attitude.  She is ready to dive into the sport more and see what she can accomplish as an Aggie.  Her work ethic and positive attitude will be a wonderful addition to our Swim and Dive team and I am excited to see what she can accomplish over the next four years!"
 
Events:  Diving