Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, November 7
Fort Collins, CO
11:30 AM
Colorado State
161
vs
139
Northern Arizona
11/7/2026 2:50:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Team grows through back-to-back duals
FORT COLLINS – Every one of them knew this was the roughest part of the schedule. Two duals in two days. The test was going to be physical for every member of Colorado State's women's swimming and diving team. It would additionally challenge them mentally.
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As captains, Tess Whineray and Mia Axelman understood they needed to set a mood for the team, particularly leading into Saturday's second leg at EPIC against Northern Arizona. As roommates, they consoled each other, as well as Mavi Nehir Isman and Maddi Geyer, their other two roommates. Saturday morning, their bodies were feeling it, and they knew it wasn't going to get any better.
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"That's definitely been a learning curve this year, trying to show up for the team," Whineray said. "I know that I complain a lot, but I know I'm gonna try my hardest, even if I'm complaining. Now I'm more conscious of what I'm saying, because it comes off to the team in a certain way, so just trying to be positive and get everyone in a good mood."
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The mood was definitely better at the end of Saturday, a 169-131 victory posted against the Lumberjacks, a perennial power in the Western Athletic Conference.
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Whineray and Axelman both had four events each day, as did a few other Rams. That's what made this weekend harder than the upcoming Hawkeye Invitational or even the Pac-12 Championships. Those days may be prelim-finals schedules, even maybe two events in one day leading to four races. Very rarely would that happen for any individual two days in a row. On top of that, races are hours apart.
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Axelman swam the 200-, 50- and 100-yard freestyles in about 40 minutes.
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"It's just a good confidence builder," said Axelman, who won the 200 and 100. "If you can swim through races in half an hour, what are you gonna do when you're swimming one race a session? I think people threw down some really fast times, so I'm excited to see what we do out of altitude, and a little bit of rest."
Â
Some of it was standard fare for the team. Whineray won both backstrokes, proving her point she's a complainer, not a quitter. Kayda Geyer won three events – the 100 and 200 breaststrokes as well as the 200 individual medley. Colorado State opened and closed with relay victories, with both Whineray and Lauren Golden swimming legs on both.
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Another positive development has been Sydney Ovesen, not just her growing consistency, but the level for which it sits. She hit her third 300 total of the season, her 308.45 winning the 3-meter and moving her to fourth on the all-time list in the event.
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Coach Christopher Woodard believes his team is simply getting tougher, a hard lesson learned after a loss to Denver the prior weekend.
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"That's my hope. We're seeing Denver, the Summit League champion, we're seeing NAU, the WAC champion, we're seeing a really tough Wyoming team all in the span of eight days," he said. "One, you've got to really prepare yourself, mentally and physically, for these days. So that means getting ahead, not just showing up the day before and stretching and whatnot. So, making sure you're on your sleep, and you're in recovery, but then during the competition, I think if you can handle something like this, right, then you're going to be better prepared for a multi-day meet."
Â
Whineray and Axelman have always been front-line performers, but this season is really their first to accept true leadership roles in a vocal way, not just the by-example method they've always shown.
Â
A few weeks ago, Woodard did note to them what was coming up. Not that he felt it was necessary, nor did he think neither of them were aware. It was more a reminder their roles are different, and eyes will be on them.
Â
They also have to be themselves in doing so, and their personalities are to have fun even when something isn't.
Â
"Tess and me usually are just messing around a lot and kind of goofing off, and so it's been good to be in this position to balance that but also show the team you can have fun and also be serious at the same time," Axelman said. "I think (Friday) we threw down some really fast times, and even though we didn't win, people were posting pool records, season-best times. I think today was more about just getting our hands on the wall first, so I think I'm happy with how it went."
Â
Avery Lonergan and Margo Hauser had busy schedules which including both placing in each the 200 and 500 freestyle, with Hauser closing the longer race rather impressively to take second. Woodard was pleased with the number of Rams who accepted the challenge of a tough schedule with the roster shorthanded.
Â
So were the captains.
Â
"No question. Coming off of Denver last week, I saw a big switch in attitude this week," Whineray said. "everyone fought for those wins that we got yesterday at Wyoming, and then they came in today and wanted the same thing. That was really cool to see."
Â
The Rams left the facility tired and ready for a nap. They also did so with a feeling of accomplishment and all the swagger their sore and tired legs could muster.
Â
Â
As captains, Tess Whineray and Mia Axelman understood they needed to set a mood for the team, particularly leading into Saturday's second leg at EPIC against Northern Arizona. As roommates, they consoled each other, as well as Mavi Nehir Isman and Maddi Geyer, their other two roommates. Saturday morning, their bodies were feeling it, and they knew it wasn't going to get any better.
Â
"That's definitely been a learning curve this year, trying to show up for the team," Whineray said. "I know that I complain a lot, but I know I'm gonna try my hardest, even if I'm complaining. Now I'm more conscious of what I'm saying, because it comes off to the team in a certain way, so just trying to be positive and get everyone in a good mood."
Â
The mood was definitely better at the end of Saturday, a 169-131 victory posted against the Lumberjacks, a perennial power in the Western Athletic Conference.
Â
Whineray and Axelman both had four events each day, as did a few other Rams. That's what made this weekend harder than the upcoming Hawkeye Invitational or even the Pac-12 Championships. Those days may be prelim-finals schedules, even maybe two events in one day leading to four races. Very rarely would that happen for any individual two days in a row. On top of that, races are hours apart.
Â
Axelman swam the 200-, 50- and 100-yard freestyles in about 40 minutes.
Â
"It's just a good confidence builder," said Axelman, who won the 200 and 100. "If you can swim through races in half an hour, what are you gonna do when you're swimming one race a session? I think people threw down some really fast times, so I'm excited to see what we do out of altitude, and a little bit of rest."
Â
Some of it was standard fare for the team. Whineray won both backstrokes, proving her point she's a complainer, not a quitter. Kayda Geyer won three events – the 100 and 200 breaststrokes as well as the 200 individual medley. Colorado State opened and closed with relay victories, with both Whineray and Lauren Golden swimming legs on both.
Â
Another positive development has been Sydney Ovesen, not just her growing consistency, but the level for which it sits. She hit her third 300 total of the season, her 308.45 winning the 3-meter and moving her to fourth on the all-time list in the event.
Â
Coach Christopher Woodard believes his team is simply getting tougher, a hard lesson learned after a loss to Denver the prior weekend.
Â
"That's my hope. We're seeing Denver, the Summit League champion, we're seeing NAU, the WAC champion, we're seeing a really tough Wyoming team all in the span of eight days," he said. "One, you've got to really prepare yourself, mentally and physically, for these days. So that means getting ahead, not just showing up the day before and stretching and whatnot. So, making sure you're on your sleep, and you're in recovery, but then during the competition, I think if you can handle something like this, right, then you're going to be better prepared for a multi-day meet."
Â
Whineray and Axelman have always been front-line performers, but this season is really their first to accept true leadership roles in a vocal way, not just the by-example method they've always shown.
Â
A few weeks ago, Woodard did note to them what was coming up. Not that he felt it was necessary, nor did he think neither of them were aware. It was more a reminder their roles are different, and eyes will be on them.
Â
They also have to be themselves in doing so, and their personalities are to have fun even when something isn't.
Â
"Tess and me usually are just messing around a lot and kind of goofing off, and so it's been good to be in this position to balance that but also show the team you can have fun and also be serious at the same time," Axelman said. "I think (Friday) we threw down some really fast times, and even though we didn't win, people were posting pool records, season-best times. I think today was more about just getting our hands on the wall first, so I think I'm happy with how it went."
Â
Avery Lonergan and Margo Hauser had busy schedules which including both placing in each the 200 and 500 freestyle, with Hauser closing the longer race rather impressively to take second. Woodard was pleased with the number of Rams who accepted the challenge of a tough schedule with the roster shorthanded.
Â
So were the captains.
Â
"No question. Coming off of Denver last week, I saw a big switch in attitude this week," Whineray said. "everyone fought for those wins that we got yesterday at Wyoming, and then they came in today and wanted the same thing. That was really cool to see."
Â
The Rams left the facility tired and ready for a nap. They also did so with a feeling of accomplishment and all the swagger their sore and tired legs could muster.
Â
Players Mentioned
FR, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BR, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BR, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, Fly, BK
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BR, FR
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BK, FL
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diver
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BK
/ Women's Swimming & DivingMonday, September 28
Wednesday, March 18
Monday, September 29
Monday, August 16