DENTON – North Texas swim and dive started 2019 off much like how it ended 2018 – with a win over an in-state power program.
 
The Mean Green defeated Rice 169-125 on senior night Friday at the Pohl Rec Center first the first time in six years. The Mean Green won both relay events in the first and final events of the day while also taking home five individual first place finishes.
 
"The last time we beat them was my first year here," head coach Brittany Roth said. "On that particular day, our girls made the decision that they were going to get up. [Friday] was a great rehearsal. I told them that we will face Rice again in a month. I told them you can't back down. You have to attack every single race, and if you do that it could be a great meet. From one event to the next they never let the momentum stop. They never got comfortable. They knew what was at stake. I'm feeling really encouraged."

During the second break in the meet, North Texas honored its six seniors: Meaghan Rousset, Kathleen Rousset Brittany Thurstin, Kelsey Opiela, Natalia Kwiatkowska, and diver Averie Ruiz.
 
Thurstin and Ruiz won events in their final home meet as Mean Green. Thurstin took home gold in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.37. She was the only Mean Green team member to podium in the event earning her squad nine points. Ruiz won both 1-meter and 3-meter diving.
 
"Every year this team evolves," Roth said. "To have this team as it is right now, is really special. I've enjoyed not only this season with them, but the entire careers here. These girls went from freshman who are unsure of themselves, looking to upperclassmen, to now giving speeches to their teammates and imparting great wisdom on them. I am really going to miss them. They are going to leave a big hole on this deck." 
 
There was plenty to celebrate Friday afternoon. North Texas started off the meet hot with a win in the 400-yard medley with a team of junior Jowita Sienczyk, Jensen, Meaghan and Thurstin with a time of 3:40.88. The Mean Green also took third in the 400-yard medley with a time of 3:59.74. It is the second meet in a row that North Texas has won the 400-yard medley relay.
 
Sophomore Leigh Faires McGee continued her strong season with a win for the second meet in a row in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:21.54. Sienczyk won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.09 to grab nine points. The rest of the Mean Green finished 4-5-6 to earn three more points.
 
Freshman Alvena Walpole came second in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:06.23. Fellow freshman Brianna Hanely rounded out the scoring in fifth with a time of 2:10.99 to earn one point for North Texas. Freshman Bryanna Vasquez finished second in the 100-yard freestyle with Walpole and Jensen behind her in third and fourth respectively. In the 100-yard breaststroke, Meaghan Rousset came second with a time of 1:04.81. Freshman Brooke Beddingfield came third to round out the podium at 1:07.57. 
 
Sienczyk and Kwiatkowska came second and fourth respectively in the 200-yard backstroke to earn North Texas six points. Sienczyk clocked in at 2:06.54 while Kwiatkowska hit 2:10.32.
 
Thurstin turned in a strong performance in the 100-yard butterfly to finish second in 57.66. Opiela came fourth at 58.61. Sienczyk continued a strong day with a first-place finish in the 200-yard IM at 2:08.58 while Walpole rounded out the podium at 2:10.95. Freshman Karigan Stanley tied for third at 2:11.76.
 
DIVING
North Texas competed with four divers in 1-meter and 3-meter diving. Rice did not travel with divers. In 3-meter, Ruiz was tops with a 255.98 while sophomore Meaghan Miller came in behind her at 248.78. Freshman Altaria Wallquist rounded out the top three with a great dive of 231.00. Junior Gabryella Silva was the drop score at 227.63.
 
Silva and Wallquist switched spots in the 1-meter final results. Wallquist was the drop score at 209.03 while Silva was third at 221.25. Ruiz claimed the top spot at 247.88 while Miller hit at 226.65.
 
"Winter training went in the right direction for us," diving coach Mark Murdock said. "So they stepped in right away and continued that. I thought they did really well. They pushed more. Not having to compete against anyone was actually ok. They pulled together and competed well, because it was a competition. They have to push and get better."
 
The Mean Green return to action on Jan. 26 against Incarnate Word and Old Dominion in a double-dual meet in San Antonio.