2021-22 Utah Swim & Dive Season Preview

9/21/2021 9:27 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Utes anticipating big season after returning numerous contributors from a year ago.

Men's and Women's Swim Season Preview
Joe Dykstra's eighth season at the helm of Utah Swimming was unlike anything he had experienced in his entire coaching career. As the University of Utah managed the Covid-19 pandemic just like everyone around the world, the athletic department took precautions to limit the spread of the virus while participating in as many competitions as possible. The swim team followed suit, but in Dykstra's words, "Everything was different."

"We came home from the Zone Diving Championships in 2020 the day that the world shut down," Dykstra said. "As a result, we were out of the water from the first week of March until July."

During the lockdown period and surrounded with uncertainty, Dykstra said that maintaining a sense of team identity was critical.

"Our swimmers really leaned on one another," Dykstra said. "We had a book club, weekly calls, and we just tried to keep them engaged as much as possible. Our team captains really stepped up as well."

For an entire year, the team swam one person per lane, with masks accessible at the end of their lanes. They also utilized both the Ute Natatorium and the campus fitness center to evenly disperse team members. For the first time ever, the team trained in roommate pods rather than in event specialty groups for contract tracing purposes.

"I coached the freshman for the first seven months of last season, and they never met the upperclassmen until two months into the season." Dykstra explained.

The abnormalities continued into the season. Several meets were canceled due to issues with the virus on opposing teams, and there was uncertainty surrounding the Pac-12 championships, which were held in Houston due to the closure of the pool in Seattle.

"Routine and regimen is everything for us, and last year there was none of it," Dykstra said. "I'm very proud of my coaches for the job they did in managing the spontaneity of everything."

In a season best characterized as a learning experience, Dykstra said his team learned the value of rest and rehabilitation throughout the competitive season.

"We learned that it's alright to take some time off," Dykstra admitted. "In our sport, we're so consumed with trying to go, go, go all the time. We took a few months off at the start of the pandemic and still swam some best times."

Despite the challenges last season presented, Utah had five All-Americans, multiple best times were set, and captain Luke McDivitt won the Pac-12 Platofrm Diving Championship. Now in 2021 with the majority of the team returning and new freshman also added to the mix, Dykstra expects this team to take a big step forward.

"Our men's team returns all five All-Americans and our stellar captains Ben Waterman, Andrew Britton, and Luke McDivitt," Dykstra explained. "Bringing back Cooper DeRyk, one of the top sprinters in the country, is also huge."

The freshman class is on the smaller side for the men's team and includes Marko Kovacic, who joined the team midway through the previous season.

"We're calling him a freshman since he hasn't been here long, but he can swim at least nine different events at a high level. He's ready for a huge breakout season." Dykstra said.

Baylor Lewis, the younger brother of Brody Lewis, will also be joining the team and is expected to have an immediate impact. Most of the points for the men's team will be returning, a stark contrast for the women's team, which debuts fifteen freshman and a transfer.

"Our transfer, Katie Hale, graduated from Idaho and is from Park City originally," Dykstra explained. "We expect her to immediately be one of our frontline sprinters."

Also returning for the Utes is Audrey Reimer, the school record holder in the 100 and 200 back. Joining her are captains Mandy Gebhart and Emma Lawless, rounding out what Dykstra expects to be a competitive women's team. Coming off a year filled with abnormalities and adaptations, Utah swimming anticipates a big year for its student-athletes.

"We're really excited about the level of talent this season," Dykstra said. "This is probably the deepest team we've ever had."

Diving Season Preview
The shortened season provided great challenges for diving coach Richard Marschner and his team. Despite this, Utah diving had its most successful season not just in the Pac-12 Conference, but in school history. Now in his twelfth year with reigns of the diving program, Marschner anticipates even more growth.

"Once we were back on the boards it was easy," Marschner said. "My team was eager to get back to it and train. The motivation was really high and our drive to do well was the best I've seen."

Training during Covid-19 protocols wasn't easy, however. There was a shutdown in the middle of November and there were multiple quarantines throughout the year which affected training immensely.

"Taking advantage of every opportunity that we had in the pool and on the boards was critical," Marschner explained. "We really put our noses down and worked hard every time we had the chance, and it paid off."

Marschner made sure that his team made no excuses despite the lack of preparation it seemed the year had brought at times.

"Anytime, anywhere," Marschner said. "That was our mentality. Luke came off quarantine during winter break and had not dived in a month. The next day he showed up and competed a full list at our home invite."

McDivitt, despite the challenges of the season, put together the greatest season in Utah Diving history. He became Utah's first-ever Pac-12 diving champion, winning the Pac-12 Platform Championship, and went on to be named the Pac-12 Diver of the Year. He also became Utah's first ever platform first team All-American following his incredible performance at the NCAA Championships.

Utah also returns Tony Chen, a top contributor on both springboards where he qualified for the NCAA Championships, as well as Jenner Pennock.. New to the team is international standout Ben Smyth from Victoria, Canada. Smyth will compete at the Junior Pan Ams in October as well as Team Canada events.

Coming back on the women's side is Lizzy DeCecco, looking to build on the first ever springboard podium finish at the Pac-12's in Utah history. Lexi Mills also is back and is anticipating a big season after a summer of training, while Hannah Truax will look to add to the team's depth. The Utes also welcome Holly Waxman to the boards this season.

"We're really looking to keep our momentum going," Marschner said. "It's taken us a while, but we're now a program that isn't so top-heavy. We aren't just one or two good divers; we're eight great divers."

After being named the Men's Pac-12 Diving Coach of the Year and featuring multiple divers from each team at NCAA's, Utah will have high expectations for the season.