LAS CRUCES – NM State is peaking at the right time and that was evident in their dominant, 174-126, win over New Mexico on Saturday at the NM State Swimming & Diving Complex.
 
In the victory, the Aggies turned in seven first-place finishes while also sweeping the relay and diving events to earn back-to-back victories over the Lobos for the first time since 2010-11. For the second straight week, the Aggies were led by Lindsay Puhalski who finished with three individual first-ranking finishes while also helping the 200-yard medley relay team secure the top spot.
 
MEET HIGHLIGHTS
· Aggie diver Italia Aranzabal got NM State going in the right direction to start the day as she landed the top-scoring dive (305.40) from the three-meter height in the opening event of the day. This was also good for the best three-meter dive from any Aggie this season and ranks fifth all-time in program history.
· The 200 medley relay team of Maude Boily-Dufour, Aimee Burton, Lindsay Puhalski and Airam Oliva-Aun then turned in a time of 1:45.32 to finish over three seconds faster than any group from UNM and earn the top spot.
· In the fourth event of the day, Puhalski was the fastest swimmer as she finished with a time of 1:53.44 in the 200 free to pace the field.
· Boily-Dufour then followed Puhalski with a win of her own as she claimed the top spot in the 100 back with a time of 58.31.
· Then Burton added to the Aggies' win total when she reached the wall first in the 100 breast with a time of 1:05.47, besting her time from one week ago by one-tenth of a second.
· Aranzabal was back to stake her claim as the best diver at the meet as she also landed the top score in the one-meter event, receiving a score of 277.35.
· As the swim events resumed, Burton picked up where she left off to take the number one spot in the 100 free (52.32).
· The Aggies then dominated the 200 back as they went one-two-three in the event. Puhalski's time of 2:04.38 led the way while Boily-Dufour and Anabel Ivanov took second and third, respectively.
· NM State also finished strong in the following event as Jordan Andrusak and Skylar Welle finished first and second, respectively, in the 200 breast. Andrusak posted a time of 2:28.01 while Welle came in at 2:28.55
· Puhalski closed out her dominant day in event 15 when she posted a time of 2:07.00 to earn a first-place finish in the 200 IM.
· The Aggies then placed a stamp on the meet as the squad of Oliva-Aun, Burton, Lauren Hemburrow and Bella Cratsenburg took first in the 400 free relay, combining for a time of 3:30.54.
 
QUOTABLE | HEAD COACH RICK PRATT
"Today was a great day for our team," stated Coach Pratt. "We had so many inspiring performances from top to bottom, and our group should feel very confident heading into the last stretch of the season. For our seniors, it was bittersweet as it's a special group who have been through a lot together. Their experience has made them one tough and reliant group of people who bring so much to our team. Their legacy will leave a strong imprint on our program."
 
UP NEXT
· Although this was the final meet for the Aggie swimmers before the WAC Championships, the NM State divers will head to Flagstaff, Ariz., next weekend to compete in the Lumberjack Diving Invite.
· The entire NM State team will then travel to Houston to take part in the WAC Championships from Feb. 23-26.