Cougs still seeking first win
Published 11/7/2011
Comments (0)The WSU women's swimming team failed to earn their first win of the season when they were defeated by the California Golden Bears in this weekend's competition.
The undefeated Golden Bears, who are also the reigning NCAA Champion, outscored WSU 160-89.
Junior Shelbi Luchini led the Cougars on the weekend, bringing in 12 individual points. Luchini scored points in the 200 fly with a time of 2:07.67, the 200 breast with a time of 2:29.61 and the 200 IM with a time of 2:10.16.
The best Cougar finishes of the day came from senior Danielle Palumbo when she touched the wall third in both the 100 and 200 back with times of 58.79 and 2:05.38.
Other notable Cougar performances came from senior Emma Neely, who placed fourth in the 200 free with a time of 1:53.72 and finished fifth in the 500 free, touching the wall with a time of 5:10.72.
Junior teammate Evelina Bieleckaite clocked a time of 24.37 in the 50 free, finishing fourth. Neely and Bieleckiate were two of 14 Cougars who contributed to the team score.
Head Coach Tom Jager said he is proud of the team's efforts against the reigning NCAA Champion.
"It was really cool and somewhat intimidating to swim against the No. 1 team in this country, but our team held their own," Jager said. "They didn't give up and they didn't give in. They swam well all the way through the very last race."
The WSU women's swimming will have a two-week break before they return to competition on Nov. 21, when they will travel to Flagstaff, Ariz., and take on Northern Arizona.
