SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah swimming and diving team will head to Provo, Utah this weekend, Jan. 23, where they will take on rival BYU. The meet is set to begin at 11 a.m.
UTAH NOTES
The men’s squad is currently ranked No. 27, according to collegeswimming.com. The squad has defeated UNLV (189.5-104.5) and took first at the Art Adamson Invitational. Their last competition was on Dec. 5, 2015 against Wyoming, where they came up short, 173-127.
During the meet, there were six first-place finishes recorded. Bence Kiraly captured first in three events; the 1,000 free (9:31.93), 200 fly (1:48.77) as well as the 500 free (4:40.41).
Paul Unger added to the wins by taking first in the 100 back (49.52) and the 100 fly (50.66). Diver Jacob Crayne also took first in the one-meter event with a total score of 366.38. He later took second in the three-meter event (335.55).
The women’s squad is coming off a loss against Boise State (159-118) and No. 18 UCLA (182-95).
Stina Colleou took second against the two teams in the 100 breast with a time of 1:05.21 with Genevieve Robertson (1:05.57) and Brianna Francis (1:05.87) following her. Robertson later took second in the 200 breast with a time of 2:18.79.
Another second place finish for the Utes came from Gillian St. John in the 50 free as she touched in at 24.18. Jenna Marsh also had a top-five finish in the event (24.55).
The diving squad competed at the UCLA Diving Invitational this past weekend. During the first day, Josiah Purrs came out victorious on the three-meter event where he came away with a total score of 768.35. Teammate Jacob Crayne also took first on the one-meter event (746.85).
Amanda Casillas placed fourth on the platform event (483.05). She finished sixth in both the one-meter and three-meter events on Friday and Saturday.
LAST MEETING
On Senior Day last season, Utah’s men crushed BYU 205-93 while the women’s team finished off the Cougars, 170-126.
The Utah women opened up the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay as the team of Megan Kawaguchi, Stina Colleou, Melissa Paahk and Maddie Jamora touched in first with a time of 1:44.31. Kawaguchi would later take first in the 100 back with a time of 57.15 while Colleou took first in the 100 breast (1:05.19) and 200 breast (2:21.45). Kat Wickham took first in the 1,000 free with a time of 10:34.96 and Dorien Butter touched in first during the 200 free with a time of 1:53.67 Petra Soininen claimed the top spot in the 200 fly with a time of 2:04.90
For the men, 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 was a 1-2-3 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).
On the diving side, Amanda Casillas took first in the three-meter event with a score of 308.40 and in the one-meter with a score of 298.20. Jacob Crayne also took first in both the one-meter event (370.80) and the three-meter event (407.10).
DESERET FIRST DUEL
In 2007, BYU, the University of Utah, and Deseret First Credit Union partnered to create the Deseret First Duel, a celebration of one of the nation’s oldest and most spirited college rivalries.
Previously there had been no established series to recognize the athletic supremacy of the Cougars or Utes. The university that wins the Deseret First Duel each year has its name permanently engraved on large granite monuments located at both schools and holds bragging rights for the following year and beyond.
BYU and Utah compete against each other in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, women’s gymnastics, women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s swimming. Points are awarded to the school that wins each game, meet, or match. A team trophy is also presented to the winner in each sport.
The Utes have beaten the Cougars the last three seasons on their way to claiming the Duel trophy. This season, Utah trails BYU 9-8 in the overall standings.
Swimming news courtesy of Utah Swimming & Diving.
