HOUSTON – Well, that's one way to start WAC Championships.
 
The 200 Medley Relay squad of Maude Boily-Dufour, Reagan Nentwich, Ashley Reynolds and Neza Kocijan captured the programs first WAC Championship in the event and set a new school record in the process.
 

WATCH | School record and the first @WACSports championship in the 200 Medley Relay in program history!!! We're off to a great start in Houston!!#AggieUp pic.twitter.com/JVEOLdvw3a

— NM State Swim & Dive (@NMStateSwimDive) February 27, 2020

"Tonight really started with a bang with that 200 Medley relay," said head coach Rick Pratt. "The ladies all had amazing splits and it was an exciting moment.  Italia had an excellent start as well, performing well in finals.  The 800 free relay was our first of the season and Neza lead off with a personal best and the other girls had great energy but over swam their front halves.  It's a short session and we've got three more days to fight, we're looking forward to more wow moments."
 
Coming in as the top seed in the 200 Medley Relay with a seed time of 1:42.96, expectations were high coming into the meet. The Aggies delivered, setting a new school record with a time of 1:39.94 just out-touching CSU Bakersfield (1.40.38). NM State also flirted with the WAC record, finishing just shy of the 1.39.38 swam by San Jose State in 2012.
 
Freshman Italia Aranzabal also had a strong showing in her first WAC Championship appearance. She finished the qualifying round of the 1m in fifth with a score of 235.15. She posted a 234.55 in the final round to finish in sixth place.
 
NM State is back in action from the CRWC Natatorium in Houston starting tomorrow, Feb. 26, at approximately 9:30 a.m. (MT).