The following is a press release courtesy of the University of Utah:
No. 25 Utah Men’s Swimming and Diving Hosts No. 22 USC
Utes host Trojans this Friday and Saturday.
UP NEXT
The 25th-ranked Utah men’s swimming and diving will host No. 22 USC for a two-day dual meet this Friday and Saturday, Feb.20-21. at the Ute Natatorium. Friday sessions will begin at 6 p.m. with Saturday’s beginning at 11 a.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The men’s squad last competed against rival BYU on Feb.7 where they came out on top, 205-93.
To start out the meet, in the 200 medley relay, it was team of Kristian Kron, Jack Burton, Alex Fernandes and Nick Soedel who took top honors with a time of 1:29.48.
It went one-two-three finish in the 1,000 free when Peter Kotson took tops honors with a time of 9:33.14 and was followed by Brandon Shreeve (9:36.83) and Matthew Bolinger (9:42.03).
Bence Kiraly took home three wins for the day; in the 200 free (1:39.03), 200 fly (1:50.37) and the 500 free (4:37.35).
Taking second in the 100 back was Brandon Deckard in 49.54 as well as in the 200 back (1:50.01). Also taking second for the Utes was Burton in the 100 breast with a time of 57.17 and in the 200 breast (2:05.95).
Fernandes touched in first in the 100 fly with a time of 48.86 while Fraser took second in the event (50.32).
UTAH RANKINGS
The Utah men’s team is ranked No. 25 according to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) last poll, which was released on Feb. 1, 2015.
UTAH NOTES
The men’s team remains undefeated and improved to 9-0 and 2-0 in Pac-12 meets.
The Utah men have non-conference wins over Air Force (259-113), Colorado Mesa (297-67 and 179-101), BYU (236-136), UNLV (192-102) and Denver (156-144) with a Pac-12 win over Arizona (187-113).
USC NOTES
USC is currently ranked No. 22 according to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) last poll.
The No. 22 USC Trojans upset the No. 12 Stanford Cardinals on Feb. 7, 157-142. The Trojans improved to 5-2 overall, 5-1 in the Pac-12.
Cristian Quintero won two events during the meet. He took first in the 200 free (1:37.54) and the 500 free (4:26.73).
Also, team of Santo Condorelli, Dylan Carter, Ralf Tribuntsov and Quintero touched in first in the 400 free relay with a time of 2:55.50.
PREVIOUS MEETING
The Utes last took on the Trojans Feb. 22, 2014 where they were defeated, 134-117. At the time, USC was ranked No. 4. The Utes won six events during the meet.
Bence Kiraly won the 1,000 free with a time of 9:05.52 where he improved his school-record time in the event. He also won the 500 free (4:24.25) for his second event win of the meet. Kiraly was also fourth in the 200 fly (1:46.86). Nick Soedel won the 100 free who touched in 42.64.
Kristian Kron won the 200 back (1:45.30) and finished fourth in the 200 free (1:38.96). Nolan Rogers took first in the 200 IM (1:52.26) and was fourth in the 200 breast (2:04.87).
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
Utah Head Coach Joe Dykstra
“Our men’s team has had a great regular season so far and we are excited to be able to host and compete with one of the best teams in the country this weekend in Southern California. We are really going to look to be at our dual-meet best and get very race ready for the upcoming Pac-12 Championships.”
Utah Head Diving Coach Richard Marschner
“We have a great tune-up meet this weekend against USC before we head off to Pac-12s. Facing off against USC is always tough but it will give us a good chance to get in one last meet situation ahead of the championship season.”
UP NEXT
The Pac-12 Women’s Championships are set to begin Feb.25-28 while the men’s are set to begin Mar.3-7. Both will be held in Federal Way, Wash. at the King Aquatic Center.
