Upcoming Event: Men's Swimming & Diving versus Alumni Meet on October 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
10:00 AM
Men's Swimming & Diving
vs Alumni Meet
2018 Utah Men's Swimming and Diving Season Preview
9/14/2018 12:47 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Utes open season on Oct. 9 at Stanford
The Utah men's swimming and diving team is fresh off another successful campaign, one that saw it send its largest contingent to the NCAA Championships since joining the Pac-12.
Head coach Joe Dykstra is entering his sixth season at the helm and expects this one to be better than the last. With a core group of veteran swimmers, a top recruiting class, and an experienced diving squad, Dykstra is confident this team can compete with the rest of the conference.
"It is the best atmosphere around our program since I arrived in Salt Lake City. We expect to have another big year with this program."
The men are following up another successful season that included a victory over No.8 USC in the 2017-18 season finale. Senior captains Austin Phillips, Daniel McArthur and Daniel Theriault will lead the squad.
"They are all frontline contributors and will be scoring lots of points for us. We are luck that they are great leaders as well."
McArthur reached three "B" finals at the Pac-12 Championships last year, placing 13th in the 200 back, 14th in the 100 back and 16th in the 200 IM. Phillips made the NCAA Championships for a second straight as part of the 200 free relay team. He also notched a a season best time of 43.32 in the 100 free at the Pac 12 Championships and reached a pair of "B" finals in the 200 back and 200 free. Theriault is a CSCAA Scholar All-American and took 20th on the platform at the NCAA Zones last season.
The three captains will be leading a men's team that features an impressive freshman class, with nearly half the roster entering their first year.
"We either have a true or redshirt freshman in every event. This class is unbelievably talented."
The team will need a boost from its underclassman, as top swimmers such as Jack Burton, Paul Ungur, Peter Kotson, and Ben Scott have all graduated. Despite the losses, Dykstra is confident that there will be no drop off between this year and the last.
"Andrew Britton and Harrison Wayner are going to be immediate contributors in the breaststroke. We have great distance guys in Nick Becker and Cole Giandinoto, and a real under-the-radar recruit in Tony Puertas."
Someone that Dykstra says will be a challenge to fit in is Jackson Cunningham, but not for a bad reason. The freshman can swim a possible twelve different events, something the Utes expect to play a factor this season.
"He's become a Swiss Army knife of sorts for us, but we have to figure out what he will specialize in. Either way, he'll be a big contributor for us."
Dykstra and his staff have worked hard to recruit talent from all over, including swimmers from multiple states and countries. This year's squad features swimmers from California, Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado, as well as from countries such as France, Israel, and Mexico. Dykstra says the diversity in his team is one aspect that makes Utah so unique.
Competing in the Pac-12 is something Utah has proven it can do. However, going against some of the best programs in the nation is still something that excites Dykstra.
"As far as the regular season is concerned, I am really excited to go to Stanford and Cal this year. It is wonderful to test ourselves against not just the best in the Pac-12, but the best in the country."
Richard Marschner returns to Utah for his tenth season as the head diving coach. Maintaining such consistency requires Marschner to recruit heavily while also streamlining the development of his returners.
"We had a lot of growth as a team last season. We had some kids work hard this summer, as well as some freshmen that are coming in who we are excited to have here. We are a young team but we also have a lot of talent."
Theriault is the clear leader of the unit but big things are expected from newcomers Luke McDivitt and Rylan Little. The team expects to be balanced, as the newcomers will compete right away.
"Daniel is a senior and he has been working hard so I am excited to see what he can do," stated Marschner. "All our recruits have great backgrounds and we know they will contribute right away. Luke and Rylan should surprise some people."
With a stellar recruiting class, experienced veterans, and a top-level coaching staff, the Utes are primed to have their best season to date.
Head coach Joe Dykstra is entering his sixth season at the helm and expects this one to be better than the last. With a core group of veteran swimmers, a top recruiting class, and an experienced diving squad, Dykstra is confident this team can compete with the rest of the conference.
"It is the best atmosphere around our program since I arrived in Salt Lake City. We expect to have another big year with this program."
The men are following up another successful season that included a victory over No.8 USC in the 2017-18 season finale. Senior captains Austin Phillips, Daniel McArthur and Daniel Theriault will lead the squad.
"They are all frontline contributors and will be scoring lots of points for us. We are luck that they are great leaders as well."
McArthur reached three "B" finals at the Pac-12 Championships last year, placing 13th in the 200 back, 14th in the 100 back and 16th in the 200 IM. Phillips made the NCAA Championships for a second straight as part of the 200 free relay team. He also notched a a season best time of 43.32 in the 100 free at the Pac 12 Championships and reached a pair of "B" finals in the 200 back and 200 free. Theriault is a CSCAA Scholar All-American and took 20th on the platform at the NCAA Zones last season.
The three captains will be leading a men's team that features an impressive freshman class, with nearly half the roster entering their first year.
"We either have a true or redshirt freshman in every event. This class is unbelievably talented."
The team will need a boost from its underclassman, as top swimmers such as Jack Burton, Paul Ungur, Peter Kotson, and Ben Scott have all graduated. Despite the losses, Dykstra is confident that there will be no drop off between this year and the last.
"Andrew Britton and Harrison Wayner are going to be immediate contributors in the breaststroke. We have great distance guys in Nick Becker and Cole Giandinoto, and a real under-the-radar recruit in Tony Puertas."
Someone that Dykstra says will be a challenge to fit in is Jackson Cunningham, but not for a bad reason. The freshman can swim a possible twelve different events, something the Utes expect to play a factor this season.
"He's become a Swiss Army knife of sorts for us, but we have to figure out what he will specialize in. Either way, he'll be a big contributor for us."
Dykstra and his staff have worked hard to recruit talent from all over, including swimmers from multiple states and countries. This year's squad features swimmers from California, Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado, as well as from countries such as France, Israel, and Mexico. Dykstra says the diversity in his team is one aspect that makes Utah so unique.
Competing in the Pac-12 is something Utah has proven it can do. However, going against some of the best programs in the nation is still something that excites Dykstra.
"As far as the regular season is concerned, I am really excited to go to Stanford and Cal this year. It is wonderful to test ourselves against not just the best in the Pac-12, but the best in the country."
Richard Marschner returns to Utah for his tenth season as the head diving coach. Maintaining such consistency requires Marschner to recruit heavily while also streamlining the development of his returners.
"We had a lot of growth as a team last season. We had some kids work hard this summer, as well as some freshmen that are coming in who we are excited to have here. We are a young team but we also have a lot of talent."
Theriault is the clear leader of the unit but big things are expected from newcomers Luke McDivitt and Rylan Little. The team expects to be balanced, as the newcomers will compete right away.
"Daniel is a senior and he has been working hard so I am excited to see what he can do," stated Marschner. "All our recruits have great backgrounds and we know they will contribute right away. Luke and Rylan should surprise some people."
With a stellar recruiting class, experienced veterans, and a top-level coaching staff, the Utes are primed to have their best season to date.
Players Mentioned
Back/Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
IM/Back/Distance Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Back/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Fly/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & DivingHear It From Harlan with Utah Diving's Holly Waxman
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