MOSCOW, Idaho- Idaho women's swimming and diving defeated College of Idaho 110-50 Saturday, in its final home meet for the 2017-18 regular season. The Vandals (6-5) posted 17 season bests and 11 career bests, with many swimmers competing in off events.
 
Leah Fisk, Idaho's leader in multiple freestyle events, swam the 100-yard breaststroke for the first time as a Vandal. Fisk clocked a 1:05.10, just 0.23 seconds behind teammate Cara Jernigan. Fisk took home an individual victory in the 200-yard individual medley.
 
The story of the day took place in the final event of the meet. College of Idaho senior Jessica Sparks entered the 1,650-yard freestyle as potentially the last race of her career. Sparks would need a 19:04.99 or better to qualify for the NAIA National Championships.
 
Idaho junior Sarah Hall entered the race with intentions on challenging the school record in the 1,000. After falling just short of the mark, Hall quickly turned her attention to Sparks' quest. The Vandal continued swimming until Sparks was on her hip. Hall then paced Sparks for the next 500 yards.
 
With one lap to go, Hall let Sparks have the pool to herself with both teams cheering her on. The C of I senior came home in 19:02.05, achieving the automatic standard and qualifying for the national meet.
 
"That's what sports are all about," said Idaho head coach Mark Sowa. "We talk about that constantly here. It's not about the outcome, it's about the journey. To watch (Sparks') journey come to this pinnacle here, that's why we do this. We're so proud to embrace competition for pure competition's sake."
 
College of Idaho head coach Jim Everett fought back tears to explain how much the race meant to him, "to see every Vandal standing up on the side, their girl pacing her and our team standing up, I'm elated. A lot of Division I programs don't even want to swim NAIA schools, so we appreciate getting to come up here. Having everybody pull her along to get to go to nationals is great."
 
Hall's narrow miss at the school record in the 1,000 was still good enough for a career best at 10:22.19. She also posted a personal best in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing in second place at 52.83, just behind Emma Schlyter's 52.75.
 
College of Idaho brought their men's swimming team as well, competing against themselves in individual races and teaming up with members of both women's teams for mixed relays.
 
The meet started with a 200-yard medley relay, featuring all mixed squads except Idaho's top team. Senior Maryann Kok anchored Idaho 'A' to a come-from-behind win, going head-to-head with College of Idaho men's swimmers.
 
The Vandals won their final four dual meets of the season to finish 6-5, their fifth consecutive season with a .500 record or better. Idaho will now head to the Western Athletic Conference Championships (Feb 21-24), in Houston.