by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
The UNM swimming and diving team defeated New Mexico State 164-114 at Seidler Natatorium on Saturday.
It was the final home meet this season and the last in the career of long-time head coach Bill Spahn. It was also the last time three senior swimmers will compete in Seidler.
"You always like to win, whether it's your first meet or your last," Spahn said. "We had some good performances. We have some great seniors. They are quality individuals, and really good leaders."
Team members echoed those sentiments.
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"He's a wonderful man, and he has so much knowledge," senior Nicole Overeem said.
Aimee Dunavant, fighting back tears, added, "It's a good way to end his career, with a win. He has done an awesome job for everyone."
Senior Becca Barras had yet another good meet on the diving boards, winning both her events. Barras scored 365.55 on the 3-meter board, and then 311.1, sweeping the diving events for the day.
"She did great," diving coach Abel Sanchez said. "She had a great season. Her shot of going to NCAA's are really good, and our goal is for her to be All-American."
Dunavant had a strong last meet as well. The senior won the 200-yard butterfly in 2 minutes, 11 seconds and played a key role in many team relays.
"I'm really pleased with how I swam today," Dunavant said. "It's a good way to go out."
Rounding out the seniors was Overeem, who also had an individual victory, winning the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 11:02.
But it wasn't all senior leadership for the Lobos.
Freshman Rachel Evans won the 100- and 200-yard backstroke, stopping the clock in 1:08.21 in the 100 and finishing in 2:32.94 for the 200. Victoria Clarridge, also a freshman, had two individual wins as well. Clarridge won the 100-yard backstroke in 58.62 seconds and the 100-yard freestyle in 53.29.
Another freshman, Andrea Zarins, added an individual victory to UNM's score, taking first place in the 200-yard freestyle, which was a very close race.
Zarins completed the event in 1:58.29, edging out NMSU's Carolyn Bohm, who came in at 1:58.53.
In the 50-yard freestyle, UNM sophomore Jenna Syverson won with a time of 24.28 and was followed by teammate Kelsey Leckovic, a junior, at 25.41.
In the relay events, UNM had its best showing of the day in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of sophomore Katy Vandam, Evans, sophomore Jennifer Hale and Syverson were the first to finish the medley, with a time of 1:50.30. In that event, UNM had a second relay team that came in right behind at 1:50.89. That team was composed of Dunavant, Zarins, junior Whitney Thomson and sophomore Kelly Soldow.
