HOUSTON (UNLVRebels.com) – Sophomore Fernanda Mendez Guerra won the 100 fly title to lead UNLV women's swimming and diving's three-medal outing on Friday's third day of the Mountain West Championships at CRWC Natatorium.
Mendez Guerra gave the Rebels their third consecutive gold medal win in the 100 fly by a UNLV swimmer with the third-fastest time in school history (52.61). She followed the footsteps of Blanka Bokros, who won the two individual titles in the event each of the two years prior.
Making her way onto the podium, junior Erika Carlson earned a bronze medal in the 200 free. During prelims, she set the program record, topping a 24-year-old mark in the event (1:46.05) previously held by Rebel All-American Lorena Diaconescu and nearly bested that in the finals (1:46.27).
Closing out the Rebel podium finishes on the night, sophomore Dominika Trentkiewicz grabbed a silver medal in the 100 back (52.62) and broke former Rebel Carmen Robb's program record that stood since 2013.
After their performances, the Scarlet & Gray (797 points) ended the night at second in the team standings within 38 points of day-three leader San Diego State's 835 points.
THE RUNDOWN:
- In the opening event of the night, the 200 free relay team of Mendez Guerra, seniors Pilar Cohen, Heather Gardner and Bridget Sullivan teamed up for a fourth-place finish (1:30.13). Additionally, the squad posted the third-fastest time ever in the UNLV record book.
- Competing in the 400 IM, freshman Grace Wharton placed fourth with an NCAA 'B' cut time of 4:16.41. She posted the third fastest-time in program history.
- Also competing in the 100 fly with Mendez Guerra, Trentkiewicz collected an eighth-place finish (53.98) and recorded the ninth-fastest time in school history.
- The 100 breast saw senior Heather Gardner swim the third-fastest time in program history (1:00.57) to place fifth in the event. Adding more crucial points for UNLV in the 100 breast, Madison Petschauer won the B final (1:02.03) and placed ninth overall.
- Competing in the 100 back final with Trentkiewicz, junior Averi Webb pulled out an eight-place finish (54.53) to give her the eighth-fastest time in school history.
- Joining Carlson in the 200 free A final scoring, senior Gina Miller placed sixth with a 1:48.26 after moving up to eighth on the Scarlet & Gray record chart in prelims (1:48.12). Tacking on additional points in the event, junior Marta Klimek notched another Rebel victory in the B final with a ninth-place finish overall (1:47.77) and Sullivan (1:49.51) followed three spots behind in 12th place.
QUOTABLE: "We continue to fight and race to stay in the conversation. Our women are resilient and I'm proud of how we're racing. One more day to go!"
-UNLV Head Coach Pat Ota
UP NEXT: The Rebels will look to contend for the MW title on Saturday, with prelims at 8:30 a.m. PT and finals at 4 p.m. PT. The 1650 free heats will start at 1:20 p.m. PT.
2025 Mountain West Women's Swimming & Diving Championships
CRWC Natatorium at the University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Friday, February 21
Day Three Results
Team Scoring
1. San Diego State - 835
2. UNLV - 797
3. UNR - 701
4. Fresno State - 657
5. Washington State - 636
6. Wyoming - 595
7. Colorado State - 477
8. Air Force - 349
9. New Mexico - 311
10. San Jose State - 214
Top-8 Finishes
200 Free Relay – 4th place - 1:30.13 (Mendez Guerra, Cohen, Gardner, Sullivan)
100 Fly – 1st place - 52.61 (Mendez Guerra)
100 Fly – 8th place - 53.98 (Trentkiewicz)
400 IM – 4th place - 4:16.41 (Wharton)
200 Free – 3rd place - 1:46.27 (Carlson)
200 Free – 6th place - 1:48.26 (Miller)
100 Breast – 5th place - 1:00.57 (Gardner)
100 Breast – 5th place - 1:00.57 (Gardner)
100 Back – 2nd place - 52.62 (Trentkiewicz)
100 Back – 8th place - 54.53 (Webb)
-UNLV-
