CONWAY, Ark. (Nov. 6, 2018) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo swimming and diving team finished runner-up at both the Hendrix Relays Friday and the Hendrix Classic Saturday. The events in Conway, Arkansas were hosted by Hendrix College at the Bob Courtway Pool.
Hendrix Relays
The ThunderWolves won five events against the four teams competing at the Hendrix Relays. They totaled 376 points, which fell just 11 points shy of host Hendrix College's 387 points.
In the second event of the evening, the Pack finished first in the 300 back relay with Jade Irick (Sr. Idaho Falls, Idaho), Natalie Rotondo (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) and Arianna Rohde (Sr., Anchorage, Alaska) posting a time of 3:0636.
Next CSU-Pueblo was victorious in the 800 free relay when it clocked a time of 8:33.80 with Phoebe Pontious (Jr., Caledonia, Mich.), Bristyn Croswhite (So., Tempe, Ariz.), Alyssa Grunloh (Fr., Round Rock, Texas) and Rotondo.
The fifth event also went to the ThunderWolves, as Croswhite, Emma Chvatal (Fr., Carterville, Ill.), Rotondo and Julia Whitfield (Fr., Wichita, Kan.) claimed the 500 free relay with a time of 4:54.93.
The 200 free relay went to the Pack when Whitfield, Deanna Harrison (Sr., Orlando, Fla.), Irick and Pontious swam to a time of 1:45.62.
Finally, with a time of 4:25.69, CSU-Pueblo was first in the 400 medley IM relay with Whitfield, Grunloh, Irick and Rohde.
Diver Madison Ortega (Fr., Pueblo West, Colo.) also got some work in and finished with scores of 168.95 on the one meter board and 143.25 in the three meter diving event.
Hendrix Classic
The next day, the ThunderWolves were also second at the Hendrix Classic when they totaled 478 points. The Pack were second to Henderson State University, who rank just outside the top 25 in NCAA Division II and compiled 533 points. CSU-Pueblo totaled five event victories, were runner-up on five occasions and were third in four events.
Diving jump started the Classic, as Ortega won the one meter diving competition with a score of 163.05, while Irick was second with a score of 149.65. Ortega was also first at the three meter height with a score of 145.60.
Rotondo claimed the first pool event victory for the Pack when she touched the wall first in the 200 free with a time of 1:57.10. She also won the 200 back when she finished in 2:10.93, winning by nearly four seconds.
The ThunderWolves went first-second in the 200 fly, as Rohde claimed the title with a time of 2:20.95 and Croswhite finished in 2:22.40.
In the 50 free, Pontious posted a time of 25.48 to finish second, while Whitfield was third with a time of 25.75. Then in the 100 free, Pontious was runner-up with a time of 54.85 and Whitfield was again right behind her at 55.85 for third.
Claiming third in the 200 IM was Chvatal when she clocked a time of 2:24.08.
Grunloh scored solid points in the 500 free when she clocked a time of 5:35.40 for third.
In the final event, the Pack were second in the 400 free relay when they finished with a time of 3:43.47 with Pontious, Irick, Whitfield and Rotondo.
Next Up
Next up for the ThunderWolves is the CMU Invite, set for Nov. 16-18 at the El Pomar Natatorium in Grand Junction, Colorado.
- 30 -
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics
