MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho women's swimming and diving opens its 2019-20 campaign Saturday, at the Swim Across American Open Water Event in Seattle. It is the first of 14 meets on the team's regular-season schedule, leading up to the 2020 Western Athletic Conference Championships.
 
Swim Across America is an organization that raises money for cancer research through these events nationwide. Last season Idaho student-athletes raised more than $11,000 at the event, with all proceeds supporting immunotherapy clinical trials and cancer research at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The Vandals have participated in the Seattle event each of the last five seasons, earning the College Cup the past two seasons as the top fundraising collegiate team.
 
The Vandals will be busy the first two months of the season, competing nine times, including the home opener Sept. 28, against San Diego State. The two teams will meet a night earlier at the WSU Relays in Pullman, along with Nevada and host Washington State.
 
The first of three road meets in October takes place Oct. 11, at College of Idaho, followed by a matchup with Boise State Oct. 12. The Vandals also travel to Pullman to swim against Washington State Oct. 18, before returning to the U of I Swim Center against Northern Colorado on Nov. 1.
 
Another road trip awaits the following weekend with a tri-dual Nov. 8, against Grand Canyon and Air Force in Phoenix. The next day, Idaho will climb to Flagstaff and take on WAC-rival Northern Arizona.
 
The Vandals will split up for their mid-season invitational, with the divers returning to NAU (Nov. 22-23) and the swimmers heading to the Husky Invite (Dec. 6-8) in Federal Way, Wash.
 
The spring semester includes three dual meets prior to the conference championships. Idaho will compete at George Fox (Jan. 18) and Seattle (Feb. 1), prior to closing the regular-season with a home meet Feb. 7, against New Mexico State.
 
The WAC Championships are set for Feb. 26-29, in Houston. Idaho took fifth last season.