The following is a press release courtesy of the Pac-12 Conference:
SAN FRANCISCO – UTAH junior Bence Kiraly was voted the Pac-12 Men’s Swimmer of the Month, while ARIZONA STATE freshman David Hoffer was named the Pac-12 Men’s Diver of the Month, the Conference announced today.
Kiraly (Szeged, Hungary) posted three NCAA B-cuts in three individual events at the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas, setting three new school records in the process. His meet was highlighted by a first-place finish in the 1650 free, where he set a Utah record with a time of 14:51.17. Kiraly placed fourth in the 500 free with a school-record time of 4:17.40, then finished sixth in the 200 free with a time of 1:35.21. He also swam in Utah’s 200, 400 and 800 free relays, with the 800 free relay team recording another NCAA B-cut at 6:25.82.
Hoffer (Littleton, Colo.) notched top-three finishes in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives in ASU’s dual against UNLV. In the 1-meter, the freshman scored a 264.90 to place second. He then scored a 273.00 to place third in the 3-meter competition. Hoffer was originally a gymnast who just took up competitive diving approximately three years ago.
Kiraly’s swimming honor is the first of his career and the second for Utah after Nick Soedel took home the program’s first swimmer of the month accolade for November 2014. Hoffer’s diving honor is the first of his career and the 15th all-time for the Sun Devils, which leads the Conference.
Utah has two dual meets in January, including one at Arizona State on Friday, Jan. 9 and one against Denver on Friday, Jan. 23 in Utah’s home pool. The Utes will also compete in the UCLA Diving Invitational Jan. 16-18, and the Air Force Diving Invitational Jan. 30-31. Arizona State has a slew of home dual meets in January, with three Pac-12 opponents as it hosts Utah, then California on Friday, Jan. 23 and Stanford on Saturday, Jan. 24. ASU also hosts BYU on Saturday, Jan. 10. For more information, including a complete schedule, visit pac-12.com.
2014-15 PAC-12 MEN’S SWIMMER AND DIVER OF THE MONTH
Swimmer Diver
November Nick Soedel, Utah Jacob Crayne, Utah
December Bence Kiraly, Utah David Hoffer, Arizona State