The University of Utah swimming and diving teams will compete against BYU this Thursday, Sept. 22 in Provo. The exhibition meet is set to begin at 5 p.m. All events will be non-scored.
This meet will not count towards the annual Deseret Dual, which will be held Jan. 21, 2017 at the Ute Natatorium.
The divers will also have a chance to swim in the 200 free relay.
“We are really excited to kick off the new season this Thursday down in Provo. I’ve really been impressed with what I’ve seen out of the team this year in our first few weeks of training, and now it will be exciting to get to watch them race. Even though this is just an exhibition, and mostly non-traditional events, I think the swimmers will be very excited to race.”
The Utes welcomed 24 freshman this year; 11 men and 13 women. Key newcomers from the women’s side are Mariah Gassaway, McKenna Gassaway, Cosima Kleine, Sarah Lott and Cassidy Stein. For the men, Liam O’Haimhirgin, Ethan Dillard, Rahiti De Vos, Matteo Sogne, McKay King and sophomore Colten Montgomery who is coming off redshirt due to injury last year all look to bring success to the season.
“We are really excited for the potential of what this season can become. We had a lot of adversity to overcome last year, and with a major influx of new talent with our freshmen class, we have an incredible energy around the team right now. I think everyone senses that we have the chance to really take a step forward as a program with this great young collection of talent, and everyone is excited to really get into the bulk of the season.”
Olympic Dreams
Utah Swimming sent eight student-athletes to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Daniel McArthur, Brandon Shreeve, Chris Taber, Gillian St. John, Jordan Anderson, Liam O’Haimhirgin and Cassidy Stein all took part in the meets to decide who would represent their country in Rio.
Diver Amanda Casillas represented the United States in the 10m platform at the Olympic Trials, Genevieve Robertson competed in the 100 and 200 breast events at the Canadian Olympic Trials and their Ute teammate Stina Colleou was on the other side of the globe representing Norway at the European Olympics Trials. She finished 14th among all European Olympic competitors in the 200 breast.
Josiah Purss Represents Utah at NCAA Championships
Purss along with former Utes, Bence Kiraly and Jacob Crayne, competed the NCAA Championships. Purss qualified on both the one-meter and three-meter. He finished 11th on the one-meter event with a total score of 357.95. On the three-meter event, he took 22nd with a score of 355.95.
Three Utes Compete At Women’s NCAA Championships
Seniors Stina Colleou and Amanda Casillas as well as sophomore Genevieve Robertson represented the Utes at the NCAA Championships. Colleou and Robertson both swam in the 100 and 200 breast. Casillas competed in the three-meter and platform diving events.
In the 100 breast, Colleou took 41st with a time of 1:01.31 while Robertson took 47th (1:01.78). They also took part in the 200 breast with Colleou finishing 25th with a time of 2:10.36 and Robertson placing 34th with a time of 2:11.79.
Casillas took 44th on the three-meter (261.50) and then took 27th on the platform event with a score of 224.15.
Men’s Squad Places Sixth At Pac-12 Championships
The men’s swim and dive team took sixth overall at the Pac-12 Championships with a score of 295.
In timed trials for the 100 back, Paul Unger touched in at 47.18 that was a new Utah school record. The previous school record was 47.54, set by Unger earlier in the season at the Art Adamson Invitational. Unger also took fifth (13th overall) in the “B” finals of the 100 back with a time of 47.86. Daniel McArthur followed in sixth (14th overall) touching in at 48.80.
Ben Scott took third (19th overall) in the 100 fly “C” finals touching in at 48.56 and he also finished third in the “B” finals for the 200 fly (1:46.84).
In the “C” finals for the 200 breast, Ganem Tebet took seventh (23rd overall) touching in at 2:01.26. Nolan Rogers followed in eighth (24th overall) with a time of 2:01.91.
Women’s Squad Takes Sixth At Pac-12 Championships
The women’s squad finished sixth at the Pac-12 Championships, tallying 538.5 points. Highlights included Colleou taking fourth in the 200 breast as well as Megan Kawaguchi and Jordan Anderson setting a new school records.
Colleou finished with a time of 2:09.79 in the 200 breast. In the “B” finals, Robertson took second with a time of 2:11.47.
In the “C” finals for the 200 back, Kawaguchi took the top spot with a time of 1:56.85, a new school record in the event, surpassing the previous time of 1:57.45 which was set at the 2015 Pac-12’s.
Anderson set a new school record in the 400 IM as she finished seventh in the “A” finals touching in at 4:12.31. The previous school record was set the 2015 Pac-12’s.
Connor Cain Named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
Cain, a native from Clovis, Calif., was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the 2015-15 Year. He was the first Ute to win a major postseason award form the conference.
During the Pac-12 Championships, he competed in all three events. He finished 11th in both the one and three-meter events while taking 16th in the platform event.
Courtesy of Utah Athletics.
Any replacements this year for either Nick Soedel or Bence?