NM State swimming, diving has sights set on WAC championship

HOUSTON – The NM State swimming and diving team has its sights set on achieving greatness this week as they head to Houston to compete in the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships set to take place on Feb. 23-26. After one year away, the WAC Championships will return to the CRWC Natatorium on the campus of the University of Houston. This will mark the sixth time that Houston will serve as the host to the WAC Championships.
 
Leading into the championships, NM State is selected to finish second overall in a poll of the WAC's head coaches by way of collecting 39 points and one first-place vote. The Aggies were the only other conference program to earn a first-place vote that didn't belong to Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks have earned the top spot in the previous eight WAC Championships and are the coaches' selection to make it nine in a row as they garnered seven first-place votes and 49 total points in the poll.
 
However, the Aggies will head to Houston with confidence that they can dethrone the WAC powerhouse as they battled to a tie with NAU on Jan. 22 of this year in Flagstaff, Ariz.
 
QUOTABLE | HEAD COACH RICK PRATT
"It's a very exciting week for our team and a great feeling to be headed back to Houston for our championship meet," Pratt said. "The past couple of years have given everyone so many challenges and I'm very proud of the resilience and determination our team has shown through everything. Our large senior class has really led the way and much of our success this season is because of them."
 
"This week will be a chance to celebrate our journey and we're all very excited to watch everyone perform and own the pool deck," Pratt continued. "For us to be competitive we're going to have to take one event and session at a time. The team that can manage the long format will come out on top."
 
HOW TO FOLLOW 
Aggie fans can catch prelims on the WAC Digital Network as well as Facebook Live, on the WAC's Facebook page. Finals are available to stream on ESPN+ with a paid subscription. Finals will also be available to view on the WAC Digital Network for international viewers. Fans can also find information regarding the 2022 WAC Swimming and Diving Championships on the WAC's Championship Central page.

WAC Championships Schedule of Events (All times are MT)
Wednesday, Feb. 23
Prelims           
9:30 a.m. - 1M Diving      
15 min. After Prelims - 1M Diving Consolation Final
Finals              
5 p.m. - 200 Medley Relay      
5:10 p.m. - 1M Diving
5:40 p.m. - 800 Free Relay

Thursday, Feb. 24
Prelims           
9:30 a.m. - 500 Free
    200 IM
    50 Free           
12:15 p.m. - 3M Diving   
15 min. after prelims - 3M Diving Consolation Final      
Finals              
5 p.m. - 200 Free Relay
6:10 p.m. - 500 Free         
6:43 p.m. - 200 IM
7:02 p.m. - 50 Free           
7:11 p.m. - 3M Diving 

Friday, Feb. 25
Prelims           
9:30 a.m. - 400 IM
    100 Butterfly
    200 Free
    100 Breaststroke
    100 Backstroke          
Finals              
5:15 p.m. - 400 IM
5:42 p.m. - 100 Butterfly  
6:01 p.m. - 200 Free         
6:20 p.m. - 100 Breaststroke       
6:39 p.m. - 100 Backstroke          
7:25 p.m. - 400 Medley Relay
 
Saturday, Feb. 26
Prelims           
9:30 a.m. - 200 Backstroke
    100 Free
    200 Breaststroke
    200 Butterfly         
11:15 p.m. - Platform Diving          
15 min. after prelims - Platform Diving Consolation Final     
2 p.m. - 1650 Free  
Finals              
4:45 p.m. - Senior Recognition    
5:23 p.m. - 1650 Free (Last Heat)
6:05 p.m. - 200 Backstroke          
6:29 p.m. - 100 Free         
6:43 p.m. - 200 Breaststroke       
7:07 p.m. - 200 Butterfly  
7:22 p.m. - Platform Diving          
7:55 p.m. - 400 Free Relay