2005-06 Swimming and Diving Season Review

3/28/2006 12:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving

March 28, 2006

WOMEN:

The University of Utah women's swimming and diving team wrapped up another successful season under Head Coach Michael Litzinger, winning its third-straight Mountain West Conference regular-season title and the program's first conference championship. Utah tallied 679.5 points at the 2006 MWC Swimming and Diving Championships. The women chalked up an overall dual-meet record of 9-1, finishing undefeated in conference dual meets for the second straight year, 8-0. The team also set eight new school records throughout the year in the 100 back, 100 breast, 200 IM, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 1-meter diving and platform diving.

The women's only loss was at the hands of the Denver Pioneers back on Nov. 4, which snapped the team's streak of 10 straight dual-meet wins. However, the women bounced back the following week, winning their last eight dual meets before heading to the MWC Championships. The women's team hasn't lost a conference dual-meet since Jan. 30, 2004 when they lost at in-state rival BYU 110-127. The women also competed in the Notre Dame Invitational in December 2005, placing third overall with 1,467 points.

At the 2006 MWC Championships, the women won five individual events, three relay events and set three new conference records. Kelsey Patterson won her first two conference crowns in the 1-meter (284.35 points) and platform (285.95 points) diving events. Patterson was also named the 2006 MWC Women's Diver of the Year as well. Amber Walter claimed two individual titles in the 50 free (22.79) and in the 100 breast (1:01.92), setting a new conference record in the process. Walter was also named the 2006 MWC Women's Swimmer of the Year. Litzinger was also named the 2006 MWC Women's Coach of the Year for the second time during his tenure.

Rachael Curci claimed her second conference title in three years in the 1650 free (16:49.77). Utah also won the 200 free relay (1:32.47) and 200 medley relay (1:42.21), setting new conference records in both events, as well as the 400 free relay (3:23.79), setting a new Utah school record in the event. The women's team led the conference with seven first-team all-MWC selections. The team also garnered nine second-team selections and five first-team relay selections.

Walter and Patterson both qualified for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Walter competed in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 breast events. The junior finished 36th in the 50 free (23.14), 67th in the 100 free (52.17) and 22nd in the 100 breast (1:02.70). Patterson competed in all three diving events, the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform. The junior placed 30th in the 1-meter (245.40 points), 18th in the 3-meter (289.35) and 21st on the platform (205.10).

MEN:

The men's team finished the regular season 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the MWC to finish fourth on the season. At the 2006 MWC Championships, the men placed fifth overall with 513 points after leading for the first two days of the championship meet. The men's team started the season 4-1 before dropping their final two meets of the season at Air Force and BYU. The men also finished second at the Notre Dame Invitational in December 2005 after tallying 1,366 points. The men set five school records throughout the year in the, 100 free, 200 back, 800 free relay, 1-meter diving and 3-meter diving. . At the 2006 MWC Championships, the men's team led the field after the first two days of competition before slipping in the final two days. Sterling Richards picked up the only conference titles for the Utes, winning the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. The senior claimed his first career conference title in the 1-meter and his third in the 3-meter. Richards was also named the 2006 MWC Men's Diver of the Year for the second time since 2004. Andrew Cole set a Utah school record in the preliminary round of the 200 back with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:45.96. The previous Ute record was 1:45.97 by Jim Giottonini in 1993. Cole finished second overall in the event. In the 100 free, senior Jonathan Larsen fell short of winning his third-straight title in the event, finishing second with a time of 44.22 seconds.

Richards qualified for the 2006 Men's Swimming and Diving Championships in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. Richards became the first Ute diver ever to earn first-team All-America status by placing fifth on the 1-meter board at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta, Ga., on March 23 He scored a 340.55 total for six dives at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center. His 74.8 second-dive score was the best of that round for the eight-man field and the third-best score of the night. Richards is the first Ute to earn All-America honors since 1999 (Heidi Hausknecht) and the first member of the men's team since Thomas Nore in 1995.

In the 3-meter, the senior placed 10th in the 3-meter dive preliminaries at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta, Ga., Friday. Richards, who scored a 328.55, missed making the finals by two places and just 4.65 points. Richards' performance earned Utah 21 points to finish 26th overall at the championships.

2005-06 MWC CHAMPIONS:Athlete(s)         Event                  TimeKelsey Patterson         1M Diving                  284.35 pointsKelsey Patterson         Platform Diving          285.95 pointsAmber Walter         50 Free                22.79Amber Walter             100 Breast        1:01.92Rachael Curci           1650 Free                  16:49.77Jensen, Walter,        Women's 200 Medley Relay 1:42.21Fredsall, BarefieldWalter, Barefield,       Women's 200 Free Relay    1:32.47Fredsall, McInturffMcInturff, Barefield,   Women's 400 Free Relay  3:23.79Fredsall, WalterSterling Richards           1M Diving                   318.55 pointsSterling Richards           3M Diving                   361.10 points
Michael Litzinger - 2006 MWC Women's Coach of the YearAmber Walter - 2006 MWC Women's Swimmer of the YearKelsey Patterson - 2006 MWC Women's Diver of the YearSterling Richards - First team All-America 1-meter diving, 2006 MWC Men's Diver of the Year
2005-06 MWC ALL-CONFERENCE (WOMEN):Athlete                       Event(s)  Rachael Curci                 500 free, 1650 freeJennifer Fredsall                 50 free, 100 flyMarissa Martin               200 backAlison McInturff               100 free, 200 freeShannon McQueen                 100 back, 200 backKelsey Patterson               1M diving, 3M diving, PlatformAmber Walter               50 free, 100 free, 100 breastJensen, Walter,              200 medley relayFredsall, BarefieldMcQueen, Walter,                 400 medley relayFredsall, McInturffWalter, Barefield,               200 free relayFredsall, McInturffMcInturff, Barefield           400 free relayFredsall, WalterMcInturff, McQueen               800 free relayCoburn, Curci
2005-06 MWC ALL-CONFERENCE (MEN):Athlete                        Event(s)Andrew Cole                  200 backJonathan Larsen                  100 freeSterling Richards                  1M diving, 3M diving
2005-06 SECOND-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE:Athlete                        Event(s)Amy Barefield                  50 freestyleMichelle Blair                200 butterflyAnna Braszkewiecz                 1M diving, 3M divingAdrienne Coburn                  400 IM, 200 breastMeghan Demchuk                200 IM, 100 fly, 200 flyAriane Kich                  100 breast, 200 breastLeah Jensen                  100 backAlison McInturff                200 IMShannon McQueen                  500 freeDamien Brown                Platform divingJeremy Clark                500 freeAndrew Cole                  200 IM, 100 backAndrew Jones                Platform divingJonathan Larsen                  50 free
NEW UTE RECORDS (WOMEN):Event            Time/Score    Athlete(s)       Location100 back             56.67         Shannon McQueen MWC Championships100 breast  1:01.92       Amber Walter    MWC Championships200 IM           2:04.69       Alison McInturff   MWC Championships200 medley relay    1:42.21       Jensen, Walter,   MWC Championships                      Fredsall, Barefield400 medley relay    3:44.51       McQueen, Walter,  MWC Championships                         Fredsall, McInturff200 free relay  1:32.47       Walter, Barefield,    MWC Championships                           Fredsall, McInturff400 free relay  3:23.79       McInturff, Barefield, MWC Championships                      Fredsall, Walter1M diving            305.30        Kelsey Patterson   Notre Dame InvitationalPlatform diving 285.95        Kelsey Patterson    MWC Championships
NEW UTE RECORDS (MEN):Event       Time/Score     Athlete(s)       Location100 free    44.07          Jonathan Larsen Notre Dame Invitational200 back    1:45.96        Andrew Cole     MWC Championships800 free relay  6:38.56        Larsen, Clark,       MWC Championships                       Cole, Evans1M diving            376.90         Sterling Richards    Notre Dame Invitational3M diving   400.95         Sterling Richards Notre Dame Invitational