By Jessica Jimenez — Staff Writer
San Jose State swim and dive team opened their last meet of the season at the Spartan and Recreation Aquatic Center with an intimate ceremony to honor the 12 graduating seniors.
SJSU hosted Cal State University East Bay where they had a triumphant win over the Pioneer, racking up 194 points to CSUEB’s 67 points.
An emotional day for many of its seniors, some felt that it was a bittersweet day finishing up their final home meet of their SJSU athletic career.
“Everyone swam super fast,” senior Kate Hanf said. “I’m proud to be a part of this group of 12 girls and I’m really excited to see how we finish the rest of the season.”
Spartan senior Katie McIntee felt that this honor ceremony was an emotional one because of the high turnout.
“I’m feeling really blessed to be competing in my final home meet on campus,” McIntee said. “We’ve been off campus for quite sometime so to just have a great last home meet here means a lot.”
The meet began with the 200-yard medley relay with the SJSU relay A clocking in at 1:45.67.
Finishing up right behind them was relay B and C touching the wall at 1:46.22 and 1:51.16.
The Spartans had a one-two finish in the 200-yard freestyle with seniors Gabby Heng speeding through the water coming in at 1:52.57 and McIntee at 1:55.13.
Senior Erin Wayman competed in the long-distance 1,000 yard freestyle where she placed first at 10:34.10 shedding off nearly two seconds since her last swim.
For the 100-yard backstroke, four Spartans all clocked in under the one-minute mark.
Sophomore Chloe Limargo and freshman Rebecca Petoe had a one-two finish for the 100-yard breastroke both coming in under the 1:05.43 mark.
Head Coach Sage Hopkins is really happy with the trajectory that the team is currently on.
Aside from the team having numerous injuries and illnesses throughout the season he said it’s great seeing the team come together.
“Now that the season is coming to a close and we have just a few weeks left, I feel like we’re really moving forward in a good direction,” Hopkins said.
SJSU senior Natasha Sondeno and sophomore Anna Jabs were the only divers who competed in the one and three meter dives.
Sondeno scored 276.08 points and Jabs 155.18 for the one-meter. Executing a smooth three-meter dive for Sondeno, she scored a 265.70 and Jabs fell right behind her.
The Spartans continued to have first place finishes throughout the meet and the seniors ended the meet with a win totalling 194 points.
Reflecting on favorite memories of their swimming careers Heng becomes more emotional watching her teammates race.
“Our first meet here back in November I was out so I didn’t get to swim and I was just watching, but seeing everyone swim so hard you get a different perspective on it,” Heng said. “You’re not wrapped up in your own swims and you can really see how hard everyone is going and that was a really big eye-opener.”
Hopkins thought this was a good send off for the graduating seniors to end the Friday afternoon.
“In the days leading up to senior day I just remember the glimpses of meeting them for the first time as recruit, them being committed and I just get emotional,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins says the women have developed into strong women and is excited to see what comes in the next steps in their lives.
Next up, SJSU will travel to Fresno to take on Fresno State for their final regular meet of the season on Saturday, Feb. 1.
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