Breakout Performances Highlight Cowgirls’ Last Home Dual

LARAMIE -- Cowgirls finished out the home swim and dive schedule with a score of 119-175 against Washington State, Saturday, at the Laramie High School pool.

Head coach Dave Denniston was optimistic in the Cowgirls’ outing, saying, “We held our own against Washington State. They are the fastest team in our conference, and our women stepped up without fear in all our races.”

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On some of the top swimmers this season, Denniston had to say, “Macey Hansen remains undefeated on the season, and Tara Joyce won races against her biggest competition of the season.”

He added, “We also had breakout swims from Isal Hardie in the 100 Fly, Abby Bruss in the 200 Fly and some great performances from Taylor Craft.”

Wyoming’s day began with diving, a sport that Washington State no longer supports. Senior Alicia Gonzalez took first in both events with a score of 326.77 in the 3-meter and 258.23 in the 1-meter. Senior Natalie Six dove her last time at Laramie HS with two second-place finishes and scores of 253.72 in the 3-meter and 245.85 in the 1-meter. Freshman diver Savannah Kierstead also competed with scores of 186.08 and 165.38 in the 3- and 1-meter, respectively.

Action in the pool began with the 200-yard Medley Relay, with Wyoming’s top relay taking second. The crew of junior Tara Joyce, junior Taylor Craft, sophomore Taylor Cureton and senior Veronika Ozimek swam the relay with a time of 1:40.58.
Sophomore Macey Hansen swept both distance races with first-place times of 10:09.77 in the 1,000-yard Free and 4:58.71 in the 500-yard Free.

In the 200-yard Free, Joyce picked up her first of two victories at the dual. She swam a time of 1:49.07 while sophomore Avery True followed in fourth with her time of 1:52.99.
Joyce would also win the 100-yard Free, touching the wall at 49.50. Ozimek would come next for the Cowgirls with a time of 52.19 for fourth.

Junior Tessa Bendokas led Wyoming in the 100-yard Back with her time of 55.90 for fourth. She also had a great outing in the 200-yard Back, adding another fourth-place finish at 2:06.16.

Craft picked up four team points in the 100-yard Breast when she took second with a time of 1:02.48. She followed up this performance in the 200-yard Breast with a third-place finish at 2:25.84.

In the 200-yard Fly, sophomore Abby Bruss finished second, touching the wall at 2:03.87. She was followed by senior Ellie Fritscher’s fourth-place finish at 2:07.98.

Ozimek took fourth in the 50-yard Free to lead the Cowgirls with her time of 23.67 to follow her 100-yard Free outing.

Freshman Isla Hardie had a breakout performance in the 100-yard Fly. She finished second with a time of 55.52, leading the Cowgirls.

Individual events closed with the 200-yard IM, and Cureton led Wyoming in fourth. She touched the wall at 2:08.19.

In the final event of the home swimming & diving season, the Cowgirls raced in the 400-yard Free Relay. The crew of Ozimek, True, freshman Rose Jones and Joyce took second with their time of 3:24.41.

“We are looking forward to resting and dropping lots of time at conference,” said Denniston. Tickets for the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Swimming & Diving Championships in Houston, Texas, are now on sale.

UP NEXT
Wyoming swimming and diving will travel to Denver for one final time for the DU First Chance Invitational, Feb. 6-7. This meet will allow many Pokes to see their first major action of the year. Stay up to date with Wyoming swim and dive by following @wyo_swimdive on X and @wyo_swim_dive on Instagram.

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