Colorado State University Athletics
Dawson Caps Career at NIC
3/14/2026 5:46:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Senior uses last meet to move up ladder
OCALA, Fla.  – Like the majority of her career, if Erin Dawson earned a lane, she was going to make the most of the chance.
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Over the course of three days at the National Invitational Championship, the fifth-year senior posted a pair of top-eight finishes and moved into the top five at Colorado State in another event, putting a cap to one of the most decorated careers for a Ram.
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"I'm really glad I came. It was also really nice because Air Force and San Jose State and Seattle were all cheering for me," Dawson said. "I don't know. It's just a good way to go out because it's a fun kind of victory lap, I guess."
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On the first day of competition, Dawson placed eighth in the 200-yard individual medley, her 2:00.77 in the finals ranking second at the school. Friday, she placed third in the 400 IM with a 4:11.88, just behind her career best. She closed the meet with the 100 IM (placing 16th, 56.87) and the 200 backstroke with a 2:00.72.
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Dawson dropped time from prelims to finals every chance she had, including another big drop in the 400 IM (5.47 seconds). Her finals swim in the 200 IM the first night makes her the only Colorado State swimmer to rank in the top five in five events, holding the school records in the 200 and 500 freestyles.
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A victory lap was warranted for Dawson, a three-time conference champion and an eight-time all-conference performer who was once named the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the conference meet, as well as earning the Senior Recognition Award.
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Recruits always hope they are making the right choice, and this final weekend solidified it for Dawson, who now is starting to see her accomplishments in their entirety.
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"I had an epiphany the other day. I was kind of like, you know, when I set goals for myself, they're kind of far out and then I achieve them and immediately I'm trying to look for the next best thing," Dawson said. "But I've never really stopped to see how far I've come or what I have achieved. So, I think like hearing something like that really puts that into perspective."
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And she had the perfect way to celebrate. She was heading to Disney World with her mom.
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Over the course of three days at the National Invitational Championship, the fifth-year senior posted a pair of top-eight finishes and moved into the top five at Colorado State in another event, putting a cap to one of the most decorated careers for a Ram.
Â
"I'm really glad I came. It was also really nice because Air Force and San Jose State and Seattle were all cheering for me," Dawson said. "I don't know. It's just a good way to go out because it's a fun kind of victory lap, I guess."
Â
On the first day of competition, Dawson placed eighth in the 200-yard individual medley, her 2:00.77 in the finals ranking second at the school. Friday, she placed third in the 400 IM with a 4:11.88, just behind her career best. She closed the meet with the 100 IM (placing 16th, 56.87) and the 200 backstroke with a 2:00.72.
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Dawson dropped time from prelims to finals every chance she had, including another big drop in the 400 IM (5.47 seconds). Her finals swim in the 200 IM the first night makes her the only Colorado State swimmer to rank in the top five in five events, holding the school records in the 200 and 500 freestyles.
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A victory lap was warranted for Dawson, a three-time conference champion and an eight-time all-conference performer who was once named the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the conference meet, as well as earning the Senior Recognition Award.
Â
Recruits always hope they are making the right choice, and this final weekend solidified it for Dawson, who now is starting to see her accomplishments in their entirety.
Â
"I had an epiphany the other day. I was kind of like, you know, when I set goals for myself, they're kind of far out and then I achieve them and immediately I'm trying to look for the next best thing," Dawson said. "But I've never really stopped to see how far I've come or what I have achieved. So, I think like hearing something like that really puts that into perspective."
Â
And she had the perfect way to celebrate. She was heading to Disney World with her mom.
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Players Mentioned
FR, FLY, IM
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