Utah Swimming and Diving Head to Pac-12 Championships.

2/24/2014 12:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving

Feb. 24, 2014

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SALT LAKE CITY- Utah women's swimming and diving will compete in the Pac-12 Championships beginning this Wednesday Feb.26 in Federal Way, Wash. at the King Country Aquatic Center.

The Utes are led by senior Traycie Swartz, who currently has the 13th-fastest time in the NCAA in the 50 free and the 16th fastest time in the NCAA in the 100 free. Her best time in the 50 free ranks fourth in the Pac-12 while her 100 free time stands seventh. Swartz also has an NCAA B standard time in the 100 back. Stina Colleou also has an NCAA top-20 time in the 200 breast, and has the second-fastest time in the Pac-12 in the event. Utah has five times that rank in the top-10 in the Pac-12, including Samantha Zuch's 1,650 free time (fourth) and Nicole Ligerza's 100 breast time (fifth).

The Utes have broken seven school records this season and swimmers have 13 NCAA B standard qualifying times. For more on each swimmer see `The Utes at a Glance' below.

Utah has been receiving votes in the CSCAA top 25 poll throughout the season.

Utah head coach Joe Dykstra is very excited to compete in his first Pac-12 Championships with the team.

"It is so exciting to be coming into the championship portion of our season. It has been six long months of hard work for our student-athletes and now it is time to see the rewards. Hopefully we can improve upon last year's 7th-place finish and get a sizeable group qualified for NCAA's," Dykstra said.

All of the Ute divers have already qualified for the NCAA Zone E Championships, which will be held from March 13-15.

"This meet is what we train all season long for. The team aspect of PAC 12s makes it exciting for the divers as it is a chance for us to compete for and with the swimmers as a unit. This meet is about team achievement and it is also fun for the men, who compete a week before the men's swimming starts, to give the swimmers and boost before they even get in the water for their first race. The past two years our men have placed second in total diving points scored and we hope to be able to do that again this year," said Utah head diving coach Richard Marshner.

The men's Pac-12 Championships begin on March 3, also in Washington. The men's diving will compete this weekend, they do not compete with swimming.

Recapping The Season

The Ute women finished the dual meet season at 8-3 and with a conference record of 3-3. They are coming off a victory Washington State in their final regular-season meet. The Utes also have Pac-12 wins against Oregon State and Arizona State with other victories against Boise State, UNLV, BYU, and Denver. Their only losses this season were against Arizona, USC and UCLA, all of which are currently raked in the top 25.

The Utes at a Glance:

Tracyie Swartz

50 free - 22.15 - 13th fastest time in the NCAA, 4th fastest time in the Pac-12, school record, NCAA B time.

100 free - 48.24 - 16th fastest time in the NCAA, 7th fastest time in the Pac-12, school record, NCAA B time.

100 back - 53.50 - 16th fastest time in the Pac-12, NCAA B time.

Sami Zuch

1650 free - 16:19.30- 35th fastest time in the NCAA, 4th fastest time in the Pac-12, school record, NCAA B time.

500 free- 4:46.38- 16th fastest time in the Pac-12, NCAA B-Time.

1000 free - 9:51.55 - 19th fastest time in the Pac-12, school record.

Giuliana Gigliotti

100 free- 49.45 - 20th fastest time in the Pac-12.

Nicole Ligeza