LARAMIE, Wyo. (9/28/22) – The University of Wyoming women's swimming & diving team earned many podium finishes at last season's Mountain West Conference championships. The Cowgirls aim to increase that number in the 2022-23 season.

The goal has led to a very appropriate slogan.

"Podium pain," head coach Dave Denniston said. "One of the big things our team realized at the end of conference is you want to get on the podium. You want to be a podium person. It's not just about making the finals, but it's about being in that top three. So, when you're going through those hard practices in the weight room or in the pool, you're experiencing pain for the podium."

Wyoming boasted 16 All-MW swims from a season ago, and that number was accomplished by a collection of nine student-athletes. Four of those Cowgirls that logged seven of those award-worthy marks return.

It's a relatively small number, but Denniston is confident that more can join the party to not only keep the Cowgirls in the top half of the conference race but perhaps even higher.  

"There's a drive and a passion to improve on the previous year," Denniston said. "It goes without saying that they want to be a top-two team in the conference. I think we have the ability to do that with the talent we have on this team, but we have a lot of work to do as well just because we're younger."

Sophomores Kayla Cunningham and Maisyn Klimczak return after winning a pair of All-MW honors. Juniors Kali Franckowiak and Sage Morton along with sophomore Gabriella Haigler also come back after claiming one all-conference honor.  

That quartet combined with plenty of other returnees and freshmen have the Cowgirls in a good position ahead of the season. But more than the production in the pool, Denniston and his staff has been pleased with how all the student-athletes have embraced the entirety of their experience at the University of Wyoming.

"They are so in tune with the community and involvement within athletics," Denniston said. "They all value their student-athlete experience. It's really cool see them being a well-rounded group of athletes. It's more than swimming. It's more than school. It's about the whole experience, and I'm really proud of them for being involved in everything campus has to offer."

The 2022-23 season begins this week. The Cowgirls will take part in the annual Brown and Gold Meet on Saturday, which includes a Brown, Gold & Old Meet on Friday at 5 p.m. at Corbett Pool.