Cougars Dominate Senior Night, Stay Perfect in Dual Meets
On a night meant to honor their seniors, Washington State Swimming turned Gibb Pool into a showcase of dominance. The Cougars didn’t just win-they overwhelmed visiting Idaho, taking 13 of 14 events en route to a commanding 210-52 victory on Friday.
Before the first splash, WSU recognized six seniors-Clara Anderson, Skylar Brgoch, Kathryn Gyde, Emily Lundgren, Anna Rauchholz, and one other-who’ve been pillars of a program that’s quietly built one of the most impressive streaks in the country. And the team gave them a sendoff to remember.
With the win, the Cougars moved to 6-0 in dual meets this season and extended their unbeaten streak to 14 straight meets dating back to last year’s perfect 8-0 campaign. But this wasn’t just about piling up wins-it was about rewriting the record books.
Three Gibb Pool records fell on the night, starting with Anna Rauchholz, who blazed through the 100 backstroke in 53.16, breaking a mark that had stood since 2022. Darcy Revitt followed by shaving time off her own 50 freestyle record, touching the wall at 22.30. Then came Mia Wille, who delivered a statement swim in the 500 free, clocking in at 4:50.07 to edge out a decade-old record set by former world champion Bonnie Brandon.
And the depth? It’s not just top-end talent carrying this team.
WSU went 1-2-3 in 10 of the 14 events-a testament to the program’s balance and depth. One standout was freshman Kate Bluford, who etched her name into Cougar history with a 54.46 in the 100 backstroke, tying for the seventh-fastest time in program history.
That’s a big-time swim for someone just getting started.
The tone was set early with the 200 medley relay team of Rauchholz, Revitt, Addyson Lewis, and Barbora Mileisyte grabbing a convincing win to open the meet. Tatum Janning followed that up with a nail-biter in the 400 IM, edging out teammate Ariel Wang by just .08 seconds-one of the night’s tightest finishes.
Wille, who’s been a force all season, added a win in the 200 free before her record-setting 500. Rauchholz’s 100 back win was more than just fast-it was historic.
And then there’s Emily Lundgren, the All-American who notched her 58th career win with a victory in the 100 breaststroke. That kind of consistency is rare, and it’s a big reason the Cougs are rolling.
Mehlika Yalcin continued her strong season with her third win in the 200 fly, while Revitt doubled up with wins in both the 50 and 100 free-highlighting a night where she simply couldn’t be caught. Jade Castro took the 200 back, and Ashlyn Hernandez powered through the 200 breast, winning by more than five seconds.
In the 100 fly, WSU nearly swept the podium again, with Mileisyte, Yalcin, and Rauchholz going 1-2-3 in a tight race that showed just how deep this team is. And while freshman Georgia Els came up just .03 seconds shy of her first collegiate win in the 100 IM, it’s clear she’s got the speed to be a factor moving forward.
The Cougars closed the meet with another statement, winning the 400 free relay by over four seconds. Revitt, Mileisyte, Wille, and Issabelle Parrish brought it home, capping off a night that was equal parts celebration and domination.
Washington State wraps up the regular season Saturday morning with a quick turnaround rematch against Idaho in Moscow. If Friday night was any indication, the Cougars are locked in, loaded with talent, and heading into the postseason with serious momentum.