2025 Big 12 Championships: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2025 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS

• February 25 – March 1, 2025
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center — Federal Way, Wash.
• SCY (25 Yards)
• Start Times: prelims – 10 am PT/finals – 6 pm PT
• Championship Central
• Psych Sheet
• Livestream: ESPN+
• Live Results
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3| Day 4

Saturday Finals Program

The last finals session of the last conference meet is here, and the team race is already decided. The ASU men and women will both win the Big 12 title in their first year in the conference, and the Big 12 will get new champions for the first time in more than a decade.

There are still some exciting swims on the docket, and what is shaping up to be an exciting race for 2nd in the women’s meet between Houston and Arizona, and either team could take it.

Ups/Mids/Downs

On the schedule tonight we have the 200 backstrokes, 100 freestyles, the final heats of the 1650s, 200 breaststroke, women’s platform, and we are ending the meet with the 400 freestyle relays.

Women’s 200 Back

• NCAA Record: 1:46.87 – Claire Curzan, 2024
• Big 12 Record: 1:49.91 – Tasija Karosas (Texas), 2017
• Meet Record: 1:50:09 – Olivia Bray (Texas), 2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:50.50
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 1:54.01

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Caroline Bentz (ASU)- 1:51.89
2. Norah Hay (UTAH)- 1:53.79
3. Kayman Neal (ARIZ)- 1:53.85
4. Elizabeth Jimenez (UH)- 1:55.39
5. Hana Edwards (ASU)- 1:55.84
6. Paige Armstrong (ARIZ)- 1:55.84
7. Charli Brown (ASU)- 1:56.29
8. Jordan Greber (ASU)- 1:57.01

Caroline Bentz succeeded on her 3-for-3 mission at her final conference champoinship meet, and first conference meet with ASU. Bentz stopped the clock in 1:51.89 which was almost a second faster than her prelims time of 1:52.82, but was just off her personal best of 1:51.81.

Norah Hay was more than a second faster than her prelims swim as well, earning the silver medal for Utah at 1:53.79. Her previous best in the event was 1:54.70.

Kayman Neal, a freshman from Arizona won the bronze medal at 1:53.85, which was six tenths faster than her prelims swim of 1:54.60. Just like this morning, Neal had an incredibly strong last 50, splitting 29.02 which was the 2nd fastest final 50 after Caroline Bentz.

Lottie Cullen from Houston finished first in the ‘B’ final, swimming 1:54.28, three-and-a-half seconds under the time she went in prelims. This would have finished 4th in the final.

Men’s 200 Back

• NCAA Record: 1:35.37 – Destin Lasco, 2024
• Big 12 Record: 1:36.42 – John Shebat (Texas), 2019
• Meet Record: 1:38.61 – Ryan Harty (Texas), 2019
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:38.80
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 1:40.62

Top 8 Finishers

1. Hunter Gubeno (CINC)- 1:40.38
2. Will Meyers (ARIZ)- 1:40.81
3. Danny Berlitz (WVU)- 1:41.20
4. Filip Suchanski (TCU)- 1:41.84
5. Brandon Miller (UTAH)- 1:42.72
6. Jono Adam (ASU)- 1:42.75
7. Joe Swain (CINC)/ Jack Wadsworth (ASU)- 1:42.94

Hunter Gubeno swam 1:40.38 to win the men’s 200 backstroke, swimming a different race than this morning, getting out in first and staying there. Ultimately his final time was about a tenth faster than his prelims swim of 1:40.50. Gubeno has been under 1:40 before, swimming 1:39.95 in the event last March.

Will Meyers finished 2nd, coming in at 1:40.81 to drop three tenths from the 1:41.15 mark he set in November.

West Virignia’s Danny Berlitz had another huge drop. He came into the met at 1:45.64 from January of last year, and then he went 1:41.94 in the prelims, and went another seven tenths faster to finish 3rd in 1:40.81

Women’s 100 Free

• NCAA Record: 44.83 – Gretchen Walsh, 2024
• Big 12 Record: 47.32– Claire Adams (Texas), 2019
• Meet Record: 45.16 – Claire Adams (Texas), 2018
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 47.10
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 48.34

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Julia Wozniak (ARIZ)- 48.56
2. Riley Botton (ARIZ)- 48.77
3. Julia Ullmann (ASU)- 48.82
4. Erin Milligan (ASU) 48.94
5. Jessica Davis (CINC)- 49.00
6. Alyssa Schwengel (ARIZ)- 49.23
7. Halli Williams (BYU)- 49.72
8. Lexi Duchsherer (ARIZ)- 49.91

Arizona took the top two spots in the women’s 100 freestyle. Julia Wozniak won the event in 48.56, which was two tenths faster than the 48.77 she went in prelims. Before today, Wozniak had never been under 48 seconds, so this was a huge best time for her.

Riley Botton took 2nd for the Wildcats, helping them pick up a significant number of points on Houston in the team battle. She stopped the clock at 48.77 which was about three tenths faster than her prelims 49.04

Julia Ullmann was the only other swimmer in the final to go under 49, swimming 48.82 for 3rd place finishe. This was just about a tenth faster than her prelims 48.94.

Men’s 100 Free

• NCAA Record: 39.90 – Caeleb Dressel, 2018
• Big 12 Record: 41.06 – Tate Jackson (Texas), 2018
• Meet Record: 41.22 – Jonny Kulow (ASU), 2025
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 41.34
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 42.19

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Jonny Kulow (ASU)- 41.07 **MEET RECORD**
2. Patrick Sammon (ASU)- 41.39
3. Tomas Lukminas (ARIZ)- 41.97
4. Tommy Palmer (ASU)- 42.00
5. Ralph Daleiden Ciuferri (ARIZ)- 42.30
6. Filip Senc-Samardzic (ASU)- 42.43
7. Quin Seider (ASU) 42.58
8. Hunter Ingram (ARIZ)- 42.82

Jonny Kulow rebroke his own meet record in the all ASU/Arizona 100 free final to take the gold for the Sun Devils. His final time of 41.07 was only a hundredth away from the Big 12 record time of 41.06 set by Tate Jackson back in 2018.

ASU also took 2nd with Patrick Sammon‘s 41.39, which was six tenths ahead of third place finisher Tomas Lukminas from Arizona. This morning, they were the only three swimmers to go under 42, and we saw that happen again tonight with Tommy Palmer touching right at 42.00.

Women’s 1650 Freestyle

• NCAA Record: 15:03.31 – Katie Ledecky, 2017
• Big 12 Record: 15:45.95 – Erica Sullivan (Texas), 2022
• Meet Record: 15:48.85 –Evie Pfeifer (Texas), 2021
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 15:52.41
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 16:14.82

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Deniz Ertan (ASU)- 16:01.31
2. Alexa Reyna (ASU)- 16:23.30
3. Malia Rausch (ARIZ)- 16:36.77
4. Sydney Nethercutt (UH)- 16:37.60
5. Miranda Kirtley (WVU)- 16:38.70
6. Katherine Randall (ASU)- 16:39.14
7. Lia Csulak (ASU)- 16:41.07
8. Ava Sutphin (ARIZ)- 16:43.03

Deniz Ertan and Alexa Reyna stayed together for the first 500, and then Ertan pulled away and stayed in the lead through the rest of the race. She very consistently held 29 mid-highs throughout the race, ultimatley coming home in 28.21 to win the event in 16:01.31. Reyna finished 2nd at 16:23.30, about 23 seconds over her seed time of 16:00.40.

Malia Rausch from Arizona had an exception last 150 to put herself ahead of Houston’s Syndey Nethercutt in a team battle where every extra point matters. Rausch split 30.04/28.51/27.13 to Nethercutt’s 30.70/30.61/28.61 to make up more than three seconds to snag the bronze medal by a little under a second.

Miranda Kirtley dropped 25 seconds from her seed to finish in 16:38.70 and earn the 4th place spot from the prelims heats of the event.

Men’s 1650 Freestyle

• NCAA Record: 14:12.08 – Bobby Finke, 2020
• Big 12 Record: 14:22.93 — Clark Smith (Texas), 2017
• Meet Record: 14:31.29 — Clark Smith (Texas), 2016
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 14:37.41
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 14:54.92

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Daniel Matheson (ASU)- 14:46.53
2. Jacob Pins (ASU)- 14:54.41
3. Nich Chirafisi (UTAH)- 15:02.28
4. Dylan Dravely (ASU)- 15:11.96
5. Mason Nyboer (ARIZ)- 15:12.08
6. Reece Grady (ASU)- 15:16.83
7. Jones Lambert (UTAH)- 15:19.98
8. Aaron Wilmes (TCU)- 15:20.73

Arizona State might have swum the 2nd fastest 200 freestyle relay ever last night, but don’t confuse them for a sprint team. They put four men in the top 8 of the men’s mile, including the two at the top of the podium.

Daniel Matheson won the event for the Sun Devils in 14:46.53 this was a three second add from the 14:43.46 he went back in November, but earned him 32 points regardless.

ASU freshman Jacob Pins finished 2nd in 14:54.41, a nine second drop from his midseason time of 15:02.71.

Utah sophomore Nick Chirafisi finished 3rd in 15:02.28, a two second drop from his season best time.

Mason Nyboer from Arizona was the highest placing prelims swimmer, touching in 15:12.08 to finish 5th overall.

Women’s 200 Breast

• NCAA Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, 2023
• Big 12 Record: 2:03.92 – Anna Elendt (Texas), 2022
• Meet Record: 2:03.26 – Anna Elendt (Texas), 2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:05.73
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 2:09.55

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Mackenzie Miller (BYU)- 2:06.53
2. Flo Peter (UH)- 2:09.91
3. Nina Vadovicova (TCU)- 2:09.98
4. Henrietta Fangli (UH)- 2:10.74
5. Addie Richards (BYU)- 2:11.11
6. Eleni Gewalt (ARIZ)- 2:11.19
7. Emma Gehlert (ASU)- 2:11.48
8. Zoe Summar (ASU)- 2:12.30

Mackenzie Miller from BYU dropped three seconds from her lifetime best in the 200 breaststroke to win the women’s event by more than three seconds. She came into the day at 2:09.61 from November of this year, which she dropped four tenths from in her prelims swim to earn the top seed at 2:09.20. In finals, she shot forward to lead from start to finish, coming in at 2:06.53.

Flo Peter from Houston finished 2nd at 2:09.91, just under that 2:10 mark and eight-hundredths faster than the 3rd place finisher, TCU’s Nina Vadivocova, who went 2:09.98 to be the last swimmer under and earn the bronze medal.

Men’s 200 Breast

• NCAA Record: 1:46.35 – Leon Marchand, 2024
• Big 12 Record: 1:47.91 – Will Lincoln (Texas), 2017
• Meet Record: 1:49.89 – Will Lincoln (Texas), 2017
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:50.65
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 1:53.12

Top 8 Finishers

1. Andy Dobrzanski (ASU)- 1:51.93
2. Oscar Bilbao (ASU)- 1:52.31
3. Tavner Wiscom (ARIZ)- 1:53.95
4. Kyle Bumgardner (CINC)- 1:54.03
5. Cale Martter (ASU)- 1:54.62
6. Felipe Goncalves (TCU)- 1:54.75
7. Tanner Nelson (BYU)- 1:55.16
8. Emerson Edwards (BYU)- 1:55.34

Andy Dobrzanski from ASU was out even faster tonight than he was this morning swimming 25.20 on his first 50. He stayed in the lead through the rest of the race, ultimately touching in 1:51.93. This was a new best time by over a second, improving from the 1:52.98 he went in March of last year.

Oscar Bilbao, also from ASU, was the 2nd place finisher in 1:52.31, less than half-a-second behind Dobrzanski.

Tavner Wisdom from Arizona was 3rd in 1:53.95, less than a tenth ahead of Cincinnati’s Kyle Bumgardner in 4th.

Lucien Vergnes won the ‘B’ final in 1:54.51, which would have finished 5th overall in the ‘A’ final.

Women’s Platform Diving

• Big 12 Record: 411.30 — Murphy Bromberg (Texas), 2015
• Meet Record: 411.30 — Murphy Bromberg (Texas), 2015

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Kayden Hayes (ASU)- 251.60
2. Michelle McLeod (UH)- 247.60
3. Callie Eagleston (UTAH)- 240.75
4. Alexia Jackson (BYU)- 239.55
5. Shiyun Lai (KANS)- 235.20
6. Kathryn Grant (UTAH)- 230.00
7. Zara Ayazi (ARIZ)- 299.95
8. Anna Kwong (TCU)- 229.30

At the conclusion of the diving event, TCU’s Anna Kwong was announced as the winner. After the event was over, the viewers were informed there was a challenge of the results and they ended up moving forward with the relays before announcing the final diving scores. Kwong ended up losing the gold medal, due to a delayed start on one of her dives, and an attempted dive change leading to a failed dive, dropping her score significantly.

With this shift, ASU’s Kayden Hayes won the event, scoring 251.60 overall to beat out Houston’s Michelle McLeod by four points. Callie Eagleston of Utah finished 3rd overall in 240.75, picking up a bronze medal for the Utes.

Women’s 400 Free Relay

• NCAA Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia, 2023
• Big 12 Record: 3:09.56 – Texas, 2018
• Meet Record: 3:11.29 – Texas, 2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:13.74

Full Results:

1. ASU- 3:13.64
2. Arizona- 3:15.62
3. Cincinnati- 3:17.39
4. TCU- 3:19.28
5. BYU- 3:19.54
6. Utah- 3:20.10
7. Houston- 3:22.18
8. Kansas- 3:22.33
9. Iowa State- 3:23.89
10. West Virginia- 3:24.07

The ASU women were seeking revenge after they lost the 200 freestyle relay last night, and they certainly got it. They won the last event of the meet in 3:13.63, putting a stamp on their victory with their team of Caroline Bentz (48.21), Erin Milligan (48.31), Julia Ullmann (48.04), Charli Brown (49.08).

Arizona finished 2nd in 3:15.62 thanks to Lexi Duchsherer (50.00), Julia Wozniak (48.38), Riley Botton (48.80), and Alyssa Schwengel (48.44). This result locked up 2nd place for them over the 7th plae Houston team.

Cincinnati finished 3rd at 3:17.39.

Men’s 400 Free Relay

• NCAA Record: 2:42.41 — Tennessee, 2025
• Big 12 Record: 2:45.12 — Texas, 2019
• Meet record: 2:47.59 — Texas, 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:49.79

Full Results:

1. ASU- 2:44.03 **Conference and Meet Record**
2. Arizona- 2:49.41
3. BYU- 2:51.19
4. TCU- 2:53.81
5. Utah- 2:55.49
6. Cincinnati- 2:55.67
7. West Virginia- DQ

The ASU men made a statement on the relay tonight, after getting disqualified yesterday. They started off fast with Ilya Kharun splitting 41.72 on the opening leg. Patrick Sammon went 2nd in 40.34. Tommy Palmer finished 3rd in 41.49, and Jonny Kulow anchored the relay in 40.48.

The Sun Devils swam 2:44.03 to win the relay by more than five seconds, and break Texas’ Big 12 and meet record in the event, both by more than a second.

Arizona finished 2nd in 2:49.41 with their team of Ralph Daleiden Ciuferri (42.20), Hunter Ingram (41.75), Jadan Nabor (42.39), and Taylor Luck (43.07).

Final Team Scores:

Women:

1. Arizona State- 1695
2. Arizona- 1240
3. Houston- 1211.5
4. Texas Christian- 854
5. Utah- 809.5
6. Cincinnati- 800.5
7. Brigham Young- 761.5
8. Kansas- 542
9. West Virginia- 409
10. Iowa State- 397

Men:

1. Arizona State- 1912
2. Arizona- 1301
3. Utah- 1153.5
4. Texas Christian- 1088.5
5. Brigham Young- 960
6. Cincinnati- 923
7. West Virginia- 570