THE STARTING BLOCK
• The NM State swimming and diving will be in home waters for the second time this season as they welcome rival UNM this weekend. The meet versus the Lobos will also serve as Senior Day for 12 Aggies as this is the final time NM State will compete at home this year.
• This will also serve as a final tune-up for Aggie swimmers as it will be the final time that they will race before the WAC Championships that are set to take place on Feb. 23-26, 2022.
• The last time the Aggies competed at home was on Oct. 9, 2021, when Northern Colorado got the best of the Aggies, 131-167.
• This will mark the second time that the Aggies will face-off with the Lobos this year as they battled to a 197-156 victory in Albuquerque, N.M., on Oct. 29-30, 2021.
• October's meet was also the first time the Aggies have come out on top against the Lobos in the previous 10 tries.
• The Aggies' victory over the Lobos earlier this season came as a result of six first-place finishes in swimming events.
• In the series history, the Aggies have defeated UNM five times, including four-straight wins that spanned from 2008-11.
• Saturday's meet will start at 11:30 a.m. and will begin with senior presentations with the events as follows: the 3-meter dive, 200 medley relay, 1000 free, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 fly, 50 free, 1-meter dive, 100 free, 200 back, 200 breast, 500 free, 100 fly, 200 individual medley and 400 free relay.

LAST TIME OUT | NM State 132, Northern Arizona 132
• The Aggies are coming off a big meet last Saturday in which they tied with WAC powerhouse Northern Arizona.
• Against the Lumberjacks, the Aggies were led by sophomore Lindsay Puhalski and junior Aimme Burton who each turned in three individual victories.
• Puhalski's results also landed her WAC Swimmer of the Week honors, posting the second time an Aggie has claimed the award this season.
• On her way to being named the conference's top swimmer last week, she swam to the top spot in the 200-yard individual medley (two minutes and 7.48 seconds) while also sweeping the 100 (58.06) and 200 back events (2:05.66).
• The Ontario, Canada, native's time in the 200 IM marked the fastest 200 IM time in the WAC last week and the third-quickest this season.
• Meanwhile, Burton pushed her way to the top of the podium in the 100 breast (1:05.48), the 50 free (23.62) and the 100 free (52.35).
• The 100 free was arguable the Aggies' most dominant race of the day as they landed swimmers in positions one through four. Behind Burton came Airam Oliva-Aun (53.21), Lauren Hemburrow (53.69) and Neza Kocijan (54.00).
• The Aggies' most important race of the day came in the final event as NM State needed to finish first in the 800 free relay in order to earn the tie with NAU.
• An all-senior 800 free relay squad stepped up to the blocks and delivered for Head Coach Rick Pratt as they turned in a time of 7:51.19 to reach the wall first and help the Aggies post enough points to match the eight-time WAC Champions.
 
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
• The Lobos bring a really talented squad to Las Cruces that is includes 15 upperclassmen and four swimmers who were recognized as All-Mountain West one season ago in Mari Aoki, Olivia Bishop, Josie Carpenter and Jocelyn Gallais.
• On the season, the Lobos are 3-2 in head-to-head meets with wins over CSU Pueblo, San Diego and Adams State.
• Due to cancellations that forced changes to its schedule, New Mexico has not competed since Jan. 8 when they defeated San Diego, 129-106.
 
PRATT PREVIEW
"Tomorrow is important for many reasons," Pratt said. "Swimming UNM always brings out the best in our group, and to compete against them is an amazing opportunity. For our 12 seniors it is their last chance to compete at home and that will certainly bring out many emotions. It is our last chance to also compete before WAC and practice the things that are important before we start to peak. I am very proud of our team and the resilience they have shown this season. For us to be successful, we're going to have to come together and have a strong focus on our skills, despite the emotions involved in tomorrow's event. UNM has several talented athletes, and this will be a great test and we're ready and excited for the challenge."

COMING UP NEXT
• The Aggies dive team will head back to Flagstaff, Ariz., for the Lumberjack Diving Invite on Feb. 4-6 before joining swim to compete in the WAC Championships at the end of February.