For the Idaho Vandals women’s swimming and diving team, all their training, competing and long hours in the pool had come down to these last competitions. For some of them, it was their last time ever puttingon a Vandal cap. In Pharr, Texas, this past week, the Vandals had a lot of outstanding performances between the lanes and rolled to 942 points and a fifth-place finish at the MPSF Championships.
Junior Ginger Kiefer, sophomore Marie Mason and graduate Maya Salvitti spearheaded the Vandals over the four-day competition. Kiefer led the pack with three first-place finishes. Mason got to the podium three times, adding a second and two third-place finishes, while Salvitti took home two MPSF titles in the three-meter dive and the platform diving.
Wednesday
Day one began with the one-meter dive and Salvitti and junior Amelia Ward both advanced to the finals and took home top-10 finishes. Salvitti placed sixth with a score of 253.05.
The day continued and the Vandal relay teams took center stage.
First with the 200-yard individual medley relay where sophomore Courtney Crawford, senior Madelynn Butler, junior Katy Foley and Kiefer combined for fifth place with a time of 1:41.20, three-tenths of a second off the school record.
The relays continued with the 800-yard freestyle where Mason, junior Isabella Borke, Kiefer and sophomore Holly Lenarz rolled to a fourth-place finish with a time of 7:21.38.
Thursday
Despite not winning any titles in day one, the Vandals showed what they were capable of and that momentum carried into day two, where they had a great day. Mason and Lenarz began the day with a great showing in the 500-yard freestyle and both advanced to the final. Kiefer, junior Natalie Charles and Crawford all qualified for the finals in the 200-yard individual medley.
Butler, Foley and senior Grace Ruble and Borke all had a chance at the 50-yard freestyle finals.
Mason, who is known for her excellence in the 1,000-yard freestyle, took her mark and leaped into the water ready to put on a show.
With every stroke, Mason cut through the water and turned it on as they approached the last lap. She used her speed and endurance to race to the wall where she finished second place and broke a school record with a time of 4:49.95 for Mason’s first podium finish of her Vandal career.
Kiefer, who has had a dominant Vandal career, took her mark in the 200-yard IM final and she did not disappoint, cruising past her competition and touching the wall with a first-place time of 1:59.18, adding another title to her stellar three-year career.
Salvitti added to the Vandals’ momentum and took her first title of the competition with an excellent performance in the three-meter dive with a score of 314.10.
Friday
Day three saw the Vandals continue their momentum from day two and multiple people made finals. Butler qualified for the 100-yard butterfly final. Kiefer and Mason headlined the 400-yard IM slate and looked to put on strong performances. Foley qualified for the 100-yard backstroke setting up another potential great day for the Vandals.
The 400-yard IM lived up to the billing and the Vandals’ superstar duo showcased their ability. As they battled for the top spot, Kiefer and Mason were neck and neck as they got to the last stroke of the freestyle.
As the final 25 yards approached, the anticipation was building and the two glided through the water and touched the wall. Kiefer got the best of Mason and took home her second title in two days with a time of 4:17.01. Mason clocked in with a third-place finish with a time of 4:20.48 to get her second podium visit of the competition, standing to the right of Kiefer who stood above the rest.
Foley also noted a strong performance in the 100-yard backstroke and got third place with a time of 54.76 for her first podium appearance of the competition.
Saturday
In the final day the Vandals, fighting for a top finish as a team, pushed and put on another great performance. Kiefer and Foley started the day off landing a spot in the 200-yard backstroke final.
Butler, Borke and junior Sydney Heasman qualified for the 100-yard freestyle final. Charles and Crawford showed out to get to the 200-yard breaststroke final and Mason took on her final event with the 1650-yard freestyle final.
Kiefer once again cruised through the final and took her third first-place finish with a time of 1:57.18. Foley put up a valiant effort and came in just off the podium with a fourth-place finish with a time of 1:59.46.
Salvitti capped her visit to the Lone Star State with another title, this time in platform diving where she landed a score of 280.95.
Ruble landed a top-five finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:01.79. The Vandals’ last relay event, the 400-yard freestyle, swam by Butler, Foley, Ruble and Heasman, saw them get fifth with a combined time of 3:23.23.
Mason completed her great weekend in the 1,650-yard freestyle where she brought home third place for her third podium appearance in the competition, continuing her breakout sophomore campaign.
The Vandals as a team and individually proved in the Lone Star State that they can compete with anyone, and their work ethic and performances saw them reach the top five and showcased many of the Vandals’ talented swimmers.
For some, this trip to Texas was the last time they will put on the cap and goggles for the Vandals. For a select few, the journey continues, with a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, for the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships later this month on March 18-21.