Boise State Athletics
Boise State
Mountain West Championships
Bronco Swimming and Diving Crowned MW Champions
2/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 22, 2014
As chants of "Boise!" "State!" bellowed throughout the Palo Alto Aquatic Center, the Boise State swimming and diving team lifted the conference championship trophy. After four days of competition and 11 top-three individual finishes, the Boise State Broncos clinched the 2014 Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championship by a dominating 102.5 points. The eight-year-old program has now won four conference championships, including two with the Mountain West.
The Broncos came into the final day of the Mountain West Conference Championships ahead of San Diego State by 18.5 points. The orange and blue took care of business in the preliminary rounds on Saturday, placing 11 swimmers in the coveted top-16 point-accumulating slots. Boise State's divers placed all four of its competitors in scoring position during their preliminary rounds on platform.
Senior Rachel Heaneyclaimed the lone individual title for the Broncos in the 200-yard butterfly. Heaney held a demanding lead in the event and stopped the clock in 1:58.09. Despite the one individual victory, the Broncos relied on depth, and mental and physical toughness to claim the conference championship.
Along with Heaney in the 200-yard butterfly, fellow senior Brooke Balogh placed fourth in 1:59.67 and Whitney Jorgensenfinished ninth in 2:00.31.
Three Broncos swam in the A Finals of the 200-yard backstroke. Nikki Cannon claimed the third spot on the medal podium with a time of 1:58.28. Junior Sydney Johansen finished fifth (1:58.64) and Devin Madseneighth (1:59.64).
Boise State placed four swimmers in the top-16 in the 100-yard freestyle. Freshman Katelyn Martin finished third in the `B' final in 50.30, for 11th overall. Brittany Aoyama took third in 49.33, Sam Wicks finished fourth in 49.50 and Jessica Bottelberghefinished eighth in 51.06 seconds.
Junior Heather Harperwas the lone representative for Boise State in the 200-yard breaststroke finals. The Redmond, Wash., native finished fourth in 2:13.98.
Junior Erin Kohlbeck and senior Ciera Cortneyboth qualified for the platform finals on Saturday night. Kohlbeck finished fifth with a 232.41 and Cortney sixth with 229.74 points.
Freshmen divers Jordan Marthens and Karli Kriewallboth made the consolation finals on platform on Saturday. Marthens finished ninth overall with a score of 218.82 and Kriewall finished 13th overall with a 191.61.
Boise State's 400-yard freestyle relay finished third in 3:17.62, behind San Diego State and UNLV.
The Broncos will learn their NCAA fate in the coming days.
