Photo by: Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
Utah Swim & Dive Excels on Saturday
12/2/2023 9:13 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Utah’s divers post team record, Miller reaches A final, VanBrocklin records Olympic Trial cut
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah's women's divers posted a new team record, Brandon Miller earned a top five finish in the in the 200 back and Evan VanBrocklin scored an Olympic Trial Cut for the University of Utah swimming and diving team on Friday as Utah's swimmers competed in the US Open in Greensboro, N.C. and the squad's divers took part in the Big Al Invite in Princeton, N.J.
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In the Pool in North Carolina
Miller earned his third-place finish in the men's 200 back prelims by recording a time of 1:58.89, which sent him through to the A final. In that race, Miller's final time was 1:59.25, good enough for fourth.
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VanBrocklin's performance in the 200 fly was also good enough to push him through to the afternoon session, after he clocked in at 2:00.07, an Olympic trial cut that placed him 13th. The sophomore swam in the B final, where he clocked in at 2:02.82. Jakub Walter reached the 200 fly C final, where he swam in to fifth, by placing 24th in the prelims at 2:03.28. His time in the final was even better, at 2:01.77.
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Norah Hay logged a 34th-place finish in the 200 back, with Summer Stanfield swimming into 40th in that event.
"Today was a really fun day," said associate head coach Michele Lowry. "We had some great performances and new best times. Another big finals swim from Brandon and a trials cut for Evan to top off the meet. This group of athletes is really paving the way for the future of this program. They show how dedication, commitment, and great attitudes can lead to success. I'm excited for them to bring this experience back to Salt Lake and lead this team into the second half of the season."
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On the Boards in New Jersey
The day for Utah in New Jersey included a team event in which the Utes' female divers bested six other programs to take first place with an average round score of 48.10 and an average event score of 6.11. Kathryn Grant, Sydney Kowalski and Holly Waxman teamed up to put their squad atop the leaderboard, Grant handling the 624b on the 10m and the 303b on the 1m, Kowalski taking care of the 105b on the 7m and the 205c on the 3m and Waxman being entrusted with the 403b on the 1m and finishing off the event with the 5152b on the 3m. This trio combined for a point total that set a new program record.
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The Utes were no less sharp in the individual events, with Waxman, Grant and Emilia Nilsson Garip all grabbing spots in the top six. Waxman then pushed her way to the top of the leaderboard in the 1m championship, posting a mark of 299.58. Grant's point total of 253.92 earned her seventh while Kowalski took 43rd. Waxman and Nilsson Garip finished the day with NCAA Championship A Qualifying scores, while Grant's went down as a B qualifying mark.
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The men's divers competed from the 3m board and Elias Petersen's preliminary performance was good enough to push him through to the final, while Jake Suchowski placed 15th and was granted entrance into the consolation final, where he finished with a point total of 242.40. In the championship final, Petersen surged to the top of the standings, scoring a mark of 383.28 that easily topped the competition and earned him his second victory and second NCAA Qualifying score in as many days in Princeton.
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"We set a new official team record in the women's team event," said head diving coach Richard Marschner, "as this was the first time we've been able to compete it since it was officially added to the rule book this summer. The team event is so exciting to watch and I know the divers love having an opportunity compete for the team like the swimmers do with relays. The event is getting more and more momentum and I'm hopeful more and more swim and dive coaches see the value to giving diving student-athletes this chance. To have five wins in five events is exceptional and I think we have a strong chance for another win tomorrow."
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Looking Ahead
Utah's divers will remain in New Jersey for one more day on competition on Sunday.
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Follow the Utes!
For fans of the Utah men's/women's swimming and diving programs, follow the Utes on Twitter (@UTAHswimdive), Instagram (@utahswimdive) and Facebook (@UtahUtesSwimDive).Â
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In the Pool in North Carolina
Miller earned his third-place finish in the men's 200 back prelims by recording a time of 1:58.89, which sent him through to the A final. In that race, Miller's final time was 1:59.25, good enough for fourth.
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VanBrocklin's performance in the 200 fly was also good enough to push him through to the afternoon session, after he clocked in at 2:00.07, an Olympic trial cut that placed him 13th. The sophomore swam in the B final, where he clocked in at 2:02.82. Jakub Walter reached the 200 fly C final, where he swam in to fifth, by placing 24th in the prelims at 2:03.28. His time in the final was even better, at 2:01.77.
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Norah Hay logged a 34th-place finish in the 200 back, with Summer Stanfield swimming into 40th in that event.
"Today was a really fun day," said associate head coach Michele Lowry. "We had some great performances and new best times. Another big finals swim from Brandon and a trials cut for Evan to top off the meet. This group of athletes is really paving the way for the future of this program. They show how dedication, commitment, and great attitudes can lead to success. I'm excited for them to bring this experience back to Salt Lake and lead this team into the second half of the season."
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On the Boards in New Jersey
The day for Utah in New Jersey included a team event in which the Utes' female divers bested six other programs to take first place with an average round score of 48.10 and an average event score of 6.11. Kathryn Grant, Sydney Kowalski and Holly Waxman teamed up to put their squad atop the leaderboard, Grant handling the 624b on the 10m and the 303b on the 1m, Kowalski taking care of the 105b on the 7m and the 205c on the 3m and Waxman being entrusted with the 403b on the 1m and finishing off the event with the 5152b on the 3m. This trio combined for a point total that set a new program record.
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The Utes were no less sharp in the individual events, with Waxman, Grant and Emilia Nilsson Garip all grabbing spots in the top six. Waxman then pushed her way to the top of the leaderboard in the 1m championship, posting a mark of 299.58. Grant's point total of 253.92 earned her seventh while Kowalski took 43rd. Waxman and Nilsson Garip finished the day with NCAA Championship A Qualifying scores, while Grant's went down as a B qualifying mark.
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The men's divers competed from the 3m board and Elias Petersen's preliminary performance was good enough to push him through to the final, while Jake Suchowski placed 15th and was granted entrance into the consolation final, where he finished with a point total of 242.40. In the championship final, Petersen surged to the top of the standings, scoring a mark of 383.28 that easily topped the competition and earned him his second victory and second NCAA Qualifying score in as many days in Princeton.
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"We set a new official team record in the women's team event," said head diving coach Richard Marschner, "as this was the first time we've been able to compete it since it was officially added to the rule book this summer. The team event is so exciting to watch and I know the divers love having an opportunity compete for the team like the swimmers do with relays. The event is getting more and more momentum and I'm hopeful more and more swim and dive coaches see the value to giving diving student-athletes this chance. To have five wins in five events is exceptional and I think we have a strong chance for another win tomorrow."
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Looking Ahead
Utah's divers will remain in New Jersey for one more day on competition on Sunday.
Â
Follow the Utes!
For fans of the Utah men's/women's swimming and diving programs, follow the Utes on Twitter (@UTAHswimdive), Instagram (@utahswimdive) and Facebook (@UtahUtesSwimDive).Â
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Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
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Diving
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Back/Free/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
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Diving
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IM/Freestyle
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Diving
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Free/Fly/IM
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Diving
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