The WSU swim team dropped a close dual meet to conference rival Oregon State on Friday, losing to the Beavers 135.5-126.5 in a competition that went down to the last two events.

Competing in their last home meet as Cougars, seniors Shawna Keller and Michaela Ahlin left Gibb Pool with strong performances, leading the team in individual scoring.

Keller (16 points) won the 200 breaststroke (2:20.32), while Ahlin (22 points) took home first place in the 200 freestyle (1:51.10) and the 500 freestyle (5:03.46).

After losing by less than a point to OSU last year, this year’s matchup remained intensely competitive to the end.

“It’s great to be able to get it down to the last two events,” Head Coach Erica Quam said. “Anytime we can do that, it’s a great learning experience for our team.” Fittingly, the meet’s first event ended in a tie for first place. The WSU relay team of Keller, juniors Rugile Mileisyte and Talor Whitaker, and freshman Evelina Bieleckaite, finished the 200-medley relay in 1:44.82, tying OSU’s “B” team for the top spot.

After the Beavers took the 100 freestyle, Ahlin won a close race in the 200 freestyle. OSU then swept the top two spots in both the 100 backstroke and the 100 breaststroke.

Ahlin came up second in the 200 butterfly, and Mileisyte (24.00) and Bieleckaite (24.08) were the first two to touch in the 50 freestyle.

Mileisyte (52.25) and Bieleckaite (52.85) took second and third in the followingt 100 freestyle.

The Beavers dominated until Keller won the 200 breaststroke in 2:20.32.

Ahlin followed suit with her second individual win of the meet, finishing the 500 freestyle in 5:03.46, almost seven seconds before second place finisher and junior teammate Jennifer Dean.

Oregon State won the 100 butterfly and the 200 individual medley to secure the meet victory, but the Cougars finished strong in the final event of the day by sweeping the top two spots in the 400 freestyle relay.

Before the action started, the Swedish National Anthem was played in honor of Ahlin, followed by the Canadian Anthem for Keller.

After the match, the two seniors allowed themselves to reflect on their time spent in Pullman.

“It’s been a long four years, but a short four years at the same time,” Keller said. “I have had a lot of ups and downs, but I have learned a lot and grown a lot as a person.” Ahlin shared much of Keller’s sentiments.

“I had four really good years here, and I have gotten better each and every year,” Ahlin said.

Up next for the team is a dual meet at Idaho on Saturday, which is the last meet before the Pac-10 Championships.

“We are going to approach the next few weeks getting ready for Pac-10’s by getting a little bit of rest,” Quam said. “These guys have been training really hard and training consistently, and we didn’t skip a beat at this meet.” Saturday’s competition will start in Moscow at 11 a.m.