SALT LAKE CITY- Utah swimming and diving will be competing against BYU in the Deseret First Duel meet this Friday, Jan. 24, at the Richard’s Building in Provo, beginning at 5:00 p.m. MT.
“We are excited for a great match-up against BYU this Friday in Provo,” said Utah head coach Joe Dykstra. “Though this will be my first personal experience with this meet as coach, I have heard from so many alumni and people in the community, as well as our returning student athletes and coaches, how intense of an atmosphere it is. Both teams are going to be tired from tough January training but I’d expect the adrenaline of the rivalry to carry both teams to some great performances, and hopefully enough of them are in our favor for us to pull off the road victory.”
Friday’s meet is worth six total points in the Deseret First Duel – three for the men and three for the women. With victories over BYU in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and gymnastics, Utah has already clinched the overall Duel for 2013-14.
The Utah women (5-3, 2-3 Pac-12) are ranked 25th in the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America poll, released on Jan. 16. The Utah men are 4-0 and 2-0 in the Pac-12.
Last time these two rivals faced was Jan. 27, 2012 where BYU came out with the trophy, defeating the Ute men 161-139 and the women 162-138.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah came out victorious at home against Arizona State, with the men winning 191-105 and the women 159-137. Multiple event winners for the Utes were Stina Colleou, Petra Soininen, Traycie Swartz, Kristian Kron, Nick Soedel and Bence Kiraly.
The women are coming off losses to fifth-ranked USC and 16th-ranked UCLA.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Last week, BYU defeated New Mexico but fell to Denver. The Cougar men are 1-2 in dual meets this year while the women are 2-2.
NEXT WEEK
Utah swimming and diving will head to Denver on Jan. 31 at the El Pomar Natatorium at 3:30 p.m. The diving team will also be competing in the Air Force Diving Invitational in Colorado Springs at the Cadet Natatorium.
Press release courtesy of Utah Swimming and Diving.
The last time Utah and BYU faced off was actually Dec 1, 2012 with a Utah victory for both squads, not the Jan 27, 2012 BYU victory stated in the press release.