Colorado State Swimmers and Divers Finish Season Strong at Denver First Chance Meet
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Colorado State University’s swimming and diving teams concluded their regular season with impressive performances at the Denver First Chance meet held Friday and Saturday, setting a positive trajectory heading into the Mountain West Championships. The meet provided an opportunity for athletes to refine their skills and build confidence before the conference competition.
Divers Shine at Denver Meet
The diving contingent led the charge, with several athletes achieving significant milestones. Freshman Sydney Ovesen made a splash, securing a place among the program’s top 10 divers on the 3-meter board with a score of 295.65. Teammate Riley Lee successfully achieved her NCAA Zones cut on the 1-meter board, registering a score of 273.25.
Both Ovesen and Lee demonstrated consistent performance, finishing second and third, respectively, on the 1-meter, and third and sixth on the 3-meter. Juliana Dodd also came close to qualifying for the Zones competition, narrowly missing the required score.
Relaxed Atmosphere Fuels Performance
According to the team’s diving coach, the relaxed atmosphere at the meet played a crucial role in the athletes’ success, particularly for Lee, who had been struggling with pressure in recent competitions.
“It definitely just kind of shows that we’re in the right trajectory moving towards the end of the season,” a senior official stated. “Everyone’s making some good progress and overall it was a great practice meet to have at the end of the season and definitely a confidence booster for some of the girls leading in the conference.”
The coach further noted the unique environment, with music playing throughout the event, contributed to a more relaxed and enjoyable experience for all participants. “The whole environment was relaxed. All the girls from all the teams were having a good time. They actually kept music playing, which is a little bit more unique, but definitely relaxed the girls a little bit.”
The coach believes the pressure Lee had been putting on herself was hindering her performance. “I think that was something that had been getting in Riley’s way, is she was trying a little too hard in some of the recent meets to get that cut and was the reason why she hadn’t gotten it yet. Definitely had the capability and had been pretty close, was one point off at NAU, but definitely a relief for her.”
Swimmers Post Personal Bests
In the swimming lanes, Hadley Dodson and Carly Nelson both achieved personal-best times, demonstrating their continued improvement throughout the season. Emma Lindstrom delivered the team’s strongest race finish, securing fourth place in the 200-yard freestyle.
Looking Ahead to the Mountain West Championships
Colorado State now shifts its full focus to the Mountain West Championships, scheduled to take place February 18-22 at the University of Houston. The Denver First Chance meet served as valuable preparation, instilling confidence and momentum as the team prepares to compete for a conference title.
