MOSCOW, Idaho- Idaho women's swimming and diving took full advantage of swimming in familiar waters Friday, posting 36 season-best times and scores on its way to a 181.5-118.5 victory against New Mexico State (1-2) in the home opener for the Vandals (3-5).
 
"We set up our schedule to start with a lot of travel in a short amount of time," said head coach Mark Sowa. "We evaluate, we work on things and we figure stuff out with the idea that we're becoming a team. When we finally get the chance to compete at home and without travel, our team brings a ton of enthusiasm. The stands were filled and the first relay was electric."
 
Through nine events the Vandals held a nearly 40-point margin, but the ensuing races were prime for the Aggies to make a move. Instead, a 1-2-3 sweep of the 100-yard freestyle and clutch performances from Alexandria Magrino and Idaho's breaststrokers held New Mexico State at bay.
 
Magrino was able to hold off a hard-charging Aggie for the win in the 200-yard backstroke, ensuring the Vandals would not lose any ground on the event despite New Mexico State claiming the next three spots in the race. Magrino also won the 100-yard backstroke, clocking season bests in both races. She won the 100 in 58.11 and the 200 in 2:04.45. Both times are good for sixth in the Western Athletic Conference this season.
 
Lauren Votava swam away from the pack in the middle lengths of the 200-yard breaststroke and coasted to victory in 2:22.64. Cara Jernigan closed with a strong final 50 yards to edge out two New Mexico State challengers and finish second in 2:23.03.
 
"Allie and our breaststrokers were the key to that meet," Sowa said. "Last year at the conference meet they pulled away from us on the 200 back. Allie took care of business there today. Her holding those guys off in the 200 back sealed the deal."
 
Jernigan was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke, outdueling NMSU's Hanna McGowan in one of the meet's most anticipated races. Jernigan shot out to an early lead and kept her distance the rest of the way. Her times in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes are season bests.
 
"Cara's split on the medley relay to start the night helped us win that race," said Sowa. "Once she saw she posted a 28.96 there, we knew she could go after the 100. She and Allie are our captains and these are the types of performances we love to see out of them."
 
The Vandal divers set the tone in the first event of the meet on the three-meter springboard. Maren Seljevold shattered her career-high with a 321.95 for the victory. Janelle Lucas took third, while Hailey Kessler and Emi Smith placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Seljevold, Kessler and Smith all posted career highs in both springboard events. The Idaho quartet finished third through sixth in the one-meter competition.
 
"Maren winning the first board was huge," Sowa said. "Us and New Mexico State are very evenly matched and that includes strong diving teams. Today was a really good day for our divers."
 
Idaho's swimmers kept the early momentum going with a  relay win and a pair of one-two finishes in the first two individual events. The Vandals went on to win 12 of 16 events. They took a 54-20 lead after Emma Schlyter cruised to victory in the 200-yard freestyle with teammate Leah Fisk behind her, ahead of two Aggies who have conference championship finals experience.
 
Schlyter carried the scoring load for the Vandals. The Freshman accounted for 21 individual points with victories in the 200 and 500 freestyle, while rounding out Idaho's sweep of the 100 freestyle. She also swam the second leg on Idaho's victorious 400-yard freestyle relay team to close the meet.
 
"Those weren't easy swims for Emma today," said Sowa. "She loves to compete. Beating one of the best 200 freestylers in the conference is a big deal. Once we did that I felt like we were rolling."
 
Friday's victory wraps up the first phase of Idaho's schedule. It was the final dual meet of the fall semester ahead of next week's mid-season invitational in Houston. The spring semester includes two home duels and the conference championship. The WAC meet may be months away, but the foundation was being laid Friday in Moscow.
 
"New Mexico State was second in the conference last year with us right on their heels," Sowa said. "It's going to be another great battle come February."
 
The win also comes after a pair of tough road losses last weekend in which the Idaho head coach wanted to make sure the team knew there were plenty of reasons to be proud despite the final score.
 
"One thing I told our group last week was that we got beat in those meets, but we weren't defeated," said Sowa. "The girls understood that."
 
He won't have to be so poetic after Friday.