Completed Event: Men's Swimming & Diving versus NCAA Championships on March 28, 2026 ,
Final Score
Men's Swimming & Diving
vs NCAA Championships
The University of Utah Athletics
A Look Back At 2001-02
5/14/2002 12:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
May 14, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY - Placing 25th at the U.S. National Championships, garnering the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year award, breaking six school records, and significantly improving the dual meet record were just a few of the highlights during the 2001-02 season for the University of Utah swimming and diving program.
In only two seasons under Head Coach Michael Litzinger, Utah has quickly become one the most improved swimming and diving programs not only in the Mountain West Conference, but in the nation as well. "It was an exciting year for us; and even though we have improved in many areas, I certainly believe that there's much more to be accomplished," states the Utah mentor.
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
The Utah men made significant strides in 2001-02. The dual meet season was highlighted by a win over the eventual Big West Conference champion, the University of the Pacific. Also, the Utes served notice to UNLV, BYU and Air Force that they are a team to be reckoned with in the Mountain West. A 10-day training trip to the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., hardened the U. men for the second half of the season. Five Utes were chosen as all-Mountain West Conference performers, two qualified for a combined five events at the U.S. Nationals, and six were named to the MWC all-academic team.
A mix of veteran athletes and freshmen helped bolster Utah's climb back to respectability. Senior captains Brandon Durrant and Daniel Godfrey were picked to lead the Ute men. Godfrey made significant improvement during Litzinger's first year, and this past season was no different. Living up to his appointed status as the team leader, Godfrey made his first MWC finals in the 200 breast, posting the 10th-fastest mark in Utah history with a time of 2:04.61.
Godfrey was supported by a freshman class that immediately made its mark. Evan Castro dominated the sprint breaststroke for Utah all season, and ended his first year by finishing 10th at the U.S. National Championships in the 100 breast. Castro's time of 56.16 was also good enough to make the Mountain West all-conference team and earn him the University of Utah's Swimmer of the Year award.
Freshman Cody Rempfer also wasted little time making his mark, advancing to the finals in every one of his three events at the MWC meet. He also qualified for the U.S. Nationals in the 200 fly, 200 IM and 100 fly. Rempfer's time of 1:49.17 in the 200 fly was good enough for a spot on the MWC all-conference team and fourth place on the Utah All-Time Top Performances list in that event.
Jon Hanna was the third freshman to make an immediate impact. Hanna, who was sidelined with mononucleosis in the fall, made an improbable comeback to take second at the Mountain West Championships in the 1650 free. His time of 15:50.93 was not only 10 seconds better than his previous personal best, but good enough to place him seventh among Utah's all-time fastest milers. Hanna was also a first team selection when the MWC honors were announced.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
The 2000-01 season saw the Utah women's swimming and diving team set three Mountain West Conference records, break eight school marks, and qualify a swimmer for the NCAA Championships in the 100 free with the 11th-fastest time in the country.
How do you top that in 2001-02? The answer was simple. In year two under Michael Litzinger, Utah broke six more school records, qualified two swimmers for the U.S. National Championships, placed 10 swimmers on the MWC all-conference team, and garnered MWC Coach of the Year honors. Not easy, and not too bad, either.
Heading into the 2001-02 season, the Utah women had their sights set on becoming a major player in the Mountain West Conference and beginning their climb in earnest on the national scene. A first-ever dual meet win against perennial Mountain West Conference contender UNLV and a holiday break at the United States Olympic Training Center highlighted a year in which the Ute women truly became a team.
Sophomore Kristen Kaiser easily carried her share of the load for Utah, winning the 1000 free all but once during the dual meet campaign. Kaiser also led the charge of the Utah women at the Mountain West meet, placing second in the 400 IM, fifth in the 500 free and fourth in the 1650 free, earning all-conference honors in each event. Classmate Neringa Statkeviciute made a splash after siting out the 2000-01 season as a medical redshirt. As one of the premier freestylers in the Mountain West, Statkeviciute captured second place in both the 100 and 200 free at the league championships, setting a Utah record of 1:49.69 in the later. Statkeviciute also qualified for the U.S. Nationals in the 50, 100 and 200 free events.
Freshman Tessa Greegor broke the oldest standing Utah record in the 100 breast by clocking an NCAA "B" qualifying time of 1:02.98. Greegor placed 13th at the U.S. Nationals in the 100-meter breast, and has emerged as one of the nation's fastest in the event. Senior transfer Courtney McKinney ended her career in fine fashion as she set a Utah record time in the 200 IM of 2:05.94. McKinney also recorded Utah's third- and fourth-best times ever in the 100 and 200 free, respectively.
The freshman trio of Loren Sweny, Sara Afong and Phoenix Fribourg all put their names into the Utah record book. Sweny led the way, recording a school-record time of 2:03.31 in the 200 back and swam a 1:50.71 leg on the record-setting 800 free relay team. Afong was the biggest surprise of the MWC meet for the Utes as she recorded a Utah record in the 200 fly, and swam the third-fastest time in school history in the 500 free with a mark of 4:56.87. Fribourg finished the 100 breast in 1:05.17, making her the fifth-fastest ever at Utah.
All told, the Ute women placed 11 swimmers on the Mountain West all-conference team, nine on the all-academic squad, and recorded 42 marks on Utah's All-Time Top Performances list. Head Coach Michael Litzinger was honored as MWC Women's Coach of the Year.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Ute men and women return 12 letterwinners for next season, and have added 13 new faces to their lineup. If last season was any indication that Utah is back, 2002-03 will be a very special year for a team that is poised to write a new chapter in the program's great history.
Players Mentioned
Breaststroke/Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Butterfly/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle/Backstroke
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