THE STARTING BLOCK
• NM State opens 2024 with a matchup versus WAC foe GCU on Saturday, Jan. 13, from the FR Edward A. Reese Aquatic Center in Phoenix, Ariz. The traditional dual meet is set to begin at 1 p.m. MT.
• This will be the Aggies' final conference meet of the season, as the Crimson & White will host I-25 rival UNM on Sat., Jan. 27, while the divers with follow up with a trip to Flagstaff, Ariz., for the NAU Diving Invite on Feb. 2-4.
• Championship scoring will be utilized this weekend with swimmers capable of scoring in six individual events and on all relays. Each team can only score two relays per event.
 
DUAL MEET HISTORY | NM State vs. GCU
1.7.23 | Las Cruces | W, 162-138
11.9.19 | Phoenix | L, 129.5-112.5
11.8.19 | Phoenix | L, 139-103
2.9.19 | Las Cruces | W 176-109
1.6.18 | Phoenix | L 180-118
1.6.18 | Phoenix | W, 170-128
1.6.18 | Phoenix | L, 207-87
10.15.16 | Las Cruces | L, 188-112
1.9.16 | Phoenix | W, 150.5-148.5
10.11.14 | Las Cruces | L, 154-140
1.25.14 | Phoenix | L, 158-104
12.1.07 | Las Cruces | W
10.13.07 | Las Cruces | L, 151-143
10.12. 07 | Las Cruces | L, 127-110
 
LAST TIME OUT | Northern Arizona | 12.17.23 | RECAP
• NM State had five players finish in first place in a 179-121 loss to Northern Arizona.
• The team of Emily Dobbins, Kodi Wiman, Lindsay Puhalski and Katie Rink (1:58.48) began the weekend with a second place finish, logging a time of 3:47:30 in the 400 medley relay.
• The trio of Lindsay Puhalski, Kodi Wiman and Thea Masselink earned a first place finish in the 300 medley relay with a time of 2:54.97. 
•  Kathryn Gyde, Emily Dobbins, Katie Rink and Naomi Slee finished as the fastest team in the 500 medley relay.
• Naomi Slee and Thea Masselink both collected first place finishes in the 200 free and 200 back medleys respectfully.

QUOTABLE | HEAD COACH RICK PRATT
"We've had an incredible stretch of practices since the team returned and we're excited to start the year off with some strong performances. GCU is an excellent team with many top swimmers in the WAC. They're going to be a great test for us with only a couple meets left before our preparation for the conference championship meet. We're going to be looking for great efforts and race strategies."