Harper Qualifies for U.S. Olympic Trials

Congratulations to Boise State freshman Heather Harper, who became the seventh Bronco to qualify for the Olympic Trials.  Harper swam the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:12.14 at the U.S.A. Swimming Sectionals in Federal Way, Washington.
 
Harper will compete at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials June 25-July 2 in Omaha, Nebraska.  She will join teammates Amber Boucher (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly), Stephanie North (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle), Rachel Heaney (200 butterfly) and Chelsea Miller (200 breaststroke) at the Trials.  Junior Christine Rainger (200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley) will compete for her native Canada at the 2012 Canadian Olympic Trials March 27-April 1 in Montreal.  Incoming Boise State freshman Taylor Paddington has met the Canadian qualifying standard in five freestyle events.

Bronco Schedule for This Week

The Boise State women's golf team is competing at the Fresno State Lexus Classic.  Meanwhile, the women's tennis team tries to break out of a slump in a match Wednesday morning at 11 against Washington State.  That will likely be played at the Boas Indoor Tennis Center off of Boise Avenue in Boise.  


Thursday, Brian Owen,George Ivanov, Jake Swartz and Brent Chriswell will compete in the 2012 NCAA National Wrestling Championships in St. Louis.  While one sport is going down in the number of Boise State representatives, another is on the rise.  Stephanie North, Amber Boucher, Rachel Heaney and Sydney Johansen give Boise State the most representatives at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in school history.  Both of those Championship events go through Saturday.


The Bronco softball team finally gets to play a home game and that is scheduled for Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the Lady Broncos host Minnesota at Mountain Cove Field.  Boise State hosts Portland State Friday at noon and then takes on Utah State at 4.


The men's tennis team hosts Arizona Friday afternoon at 2, again most likely at the Boas Center given the typical weather for this time of year.


The #15 Boise State gymnastics team treks to Southern Utah for a meet Friday at 7.  


More action is lined up for the weekend and Blue Through and Through will keep you up to date on the schedule and results, as you have come to expect.

Four Broncos Head to NCAA National Wrestling Championships

The smallest contingent of Boise State wrestlers in several years will be at this year's NCAA National Wrestling Championships in St. Louis.  The Championships begin Thursday, with Brian Owen (133 pounds), George Ivanov (157), Jake Swartz (184) and Brent Chriswell (197) representing the school.


Owen is 8-1 this season after being out of action due to injury for most of the season.  Owen began participating in February and his only loss was to #2 seed Logan Stieber of Ohio State.  Owen won the Pac-12 Championship at 133 pounds last month in Boise.  Ivanov comes into the Tournament with a 22-6 mark after finishing second in his weight classification.  Swartz also won the Pac-12 and sports an 18-4 record.  Jake is ranked 10th in the nation and he too missed part of the season with a leg injury.  Chriswell is 14-2 after winning the Pac-12, his third conference championship of his career.  


Swartz is the #10 seed at 184 pounds and will meet Matt Ryan of West Virginia (19-4).  Owen has to face #3 seed Tony Ramos of Iowa (28-3)in the first round at 133 pounds while Ivanov will take on Joshua Kreimier of Air Force.  Chriswell challenges #5 Cayle Byers of Oklahoma State (23-3).


Blue Through and Through will have up-to-date information and results on all of the Broncos at the National Tournament.