The Fresno State swimming and diving team finished fifth in the Mountain West Conference Championship, giving the ‘Dogs their best finish in the tournament.
The championship took place at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis from Feb. 20 to Feb. 23.
The fifth-place finish is the best for the program since 2012-2013, when it joined the conference.
The Bulldogs finished with a total of 781.5 points, just 11 points behind the University of New Mexico, which finished fourth, 579 points behind eventual champion San Diego State.
For the ‘Dogs, Zofia Niemczak became the Mountain West champion in the 200 butterfly event. Niemczak won the final in 1:58.63, which was just shy of the program’s record time.
Niemczak said, according to a Fresno State Athletics news release, that this year had been a rollercoaster of emotions.
“It’s been up and down and it’s everything I could have asked for. I couldn’t have done it without any of my girls here,” Niemczak said. “They’ve had my back and I’ve had theirs, and this team really means everything to me. It feels like a dream come true to be a Mountain West champion and I’m just on cloud nine.”
Ugne Mazutaityte and Manuela Mendolicchio earned bronze in the 200 backstroke and 200 breastroke, respectively.
For Mazutaityte, this was her third career medal in the 200 backstroke, finishing with a time of 1:55.88.
Mendolicchio finished just .10 milliseconds shy of breaking the 200 breaststroke record with a time of 2:11.31.
In the 1,650-yard freestyle, Bulldog Brenda Diaz Martinez finished with a time of 16:41.87, breaking the former record of 16:43.28 for the program.
Bulldog diver Yuliya Tykha finished her time in the championship placing 18th with a total score of 205.85
The other Bulldogs diver, Kelli Funk, placed 13th with a score of 210.30, which moved advanced her to the consolation final where she placed fourth with a score of 218.00.
After the championship weekend, Niemczak now holds program records for the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly. The Bulldogs were also able to break the 200 and 400 medley relay and the 800 free relay program records.
Head coach Jeanne Fleck said that this year was just a phenomenal year for her team.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t get fourth but we did about everything we could to get it. We swam great and I’m so proud of the swimmers and divers and everybody,” Fleck said. “Everybody pulled their weight and it was a fun and exciting last day and it was great having a champion.”
