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Denny Woods, who competed at the 2025 U.S. Junior National Championships, has announced his verbal commitment to compete for Colorado Mesa University beginning in the fall of 2026.
“Growing up club swimming, I have swam at the CMU facility since I was 11 years old. I’ve swam many best times there and have always wanted the chance to swim on the college team that trains there. I am thankful to Coach Wender for giving me this amazing opportunity. I’m looking forward to winning a national championship with my team. Go Mavs!”
A senior at Durango High School in Colorado, Woods’ decision to study and swim in Grand Junction will take him just a few hours away from home. A versatile threat in the water, he currently trains year-round with Durango Swim Club and excels at breaststroke but is also a strong competitor in free, fly and IM.
Last season, Woods turned in a series of top performances at the NEP Holiday Swim Festival in December. He won the 100 breast in a lifetime best time of 56.24, narrowly outtouching the runner-up by .05. He placed 3rd in the 50 breast (26.25), 10th in the 200 breast (2:06.1) and 50 free (21.76), 11th in the 50 fly (23.84), 19th in the 200 IM (2:02.29) and 24th in the 200 free (1:47.77), setting new personal best times in each event. Woods also finished 11th in the 100 free (48.33) and 30th in the 100 fly (53.73).
Woods improved many of those times even further at the Western Zone Senior Championships in April, posting lifetime bests in five events over the course of the weekend. He took 2nd in the 100 breast (55.39 – PB), 3rd in the 200 breast (2:03.28 – PB), 10th in the 50 free (21.73) and 100 free (47.63) and 11th in the 200 free (1:44.63 – PB) and 100 fly (52.07 – PB). Woods also clocked a personal best in the 50 free (21.31) as the leadoff on Durango’s 200 free relay team.
Over the summer, Woods competed at the U.S. Junior National Championships (LCM), where he earned a second swim in one of his individual events and logged two new best times. He finished 26th in the 50 breast (28.90 – PB), 48th in the 100 breast (1:04.62), 96th in the 200 breast (2:25.61) and 133rd in the 50 fly (26.44 – PB).
Best Times SCY
- 100 breast – 55.10
- 200 breast – 2:03.28
- 100 free – 46.98
- 100 fly – 52.07
- 200 IM – 1:54.40
A Division II program, Colorado Mesa competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Mavericks won their seventh straight RMAC Championship title last season, marking the men’s team’s ninth conference championship victory in total. Based on the results from the 2025 RMAC Championships, Woods would have landed in the ‘A’ final in the 100 and 200 breast and the ‘B’ final in the 100 free and 200 IM, setting him up to be a strong contributor right from the start.
Woods will bring added depth to Colorado Mesa’s team when he arrives next season, as the Mavericks already boast a strong breaststroke group with several of the top breaststrokers slated to still be on the roster next year.
Joining Woods in Grand Junction next fall will be Brody Blatt, Brix Dewitt, Austin Felio and Brady Bennett, who should all make for strong training partners over their four years together.
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