Upcoming Event: Women's Swimming & Diving versus Alumni Meet on October 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
10:00 AM
Women's Swimming & Diving
vs Alumni Meet
Tuesday, February 25
Federal Way, Wash.
University of Utah
vs
Big 12 Championships
Utah Swim and Dive Makes Big 12 Championship Debut
2/24/2025 1:29 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Utes travel to Federal Way, Wash. for conference finale
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah swim and dive program is traveling to its first-ever Big 12 Swim and Dive Championship to take on ten opponents for the Conference title, in Federal Way, Wash. with competition beginning Tuesday night at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
The last time the Utes competed at a conference championship was in the Pac-12 in 2024. Both teams ended in sixth, moving up from their projected totals of eighth. After being in the Pac-12 for 13 years, the Big 12 championship meet will look different for the Utes.
"It's a new for us to be in this conference," said head coach Jonas Persson. "It's new to have the men and women compete at the same time and it's new to have our male divers compete alongside our male swimmers. So, it's certainly going to be a very special week."
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
"We are all very excited about the conference championships coming up this week," said Persson. "Our two teams have been training really hard and are physically, emotionally and mentally ready for it.
Lookin' for More NCAA Cuts
On the diving side, Utah is looking forward to competing the newly-recognized team event. Not only will they be able to use it as practice for future meets, but the Big 12 recognizes it and scores it equivalently to a swim relay. This will be the first time the Utes get to compete the team event at conference and the points will count toward the teams' overall score.
"This is going to be a fun meet. We believe we can compete with the best of the conference and we have a great opportunity to assert our program as the one to beat in the conference." said head diving coach Richard Marschner. "Our team is very good and very deep and as a result, we have multiple divers who can compete for Big 12 Championship titles. Personally, I am thrilled for our divers to have the chance to compete in the team event as an official scored event. It is past time for divers to have this type of opportunity and I am so thankful to be in a forward-thinking conference like the Big 12. I know our divers are incredibly excited about competing in the team event and it should be a very exciting week."
Big (12) Dives
"I think that we are going to see some great success from our swimmers and divers, which they deserve, and I can't wait to get started," said Persson.
Triple Threat
Elias Petersen was awarded his third Big 12 weekly award after breaking the pool and program record on 1m in the rivalry meetup against BYU. Petersen is the first Utah student-athlete to receive three conference honors in the new Big 12 era.
Down Fall the Cougars
In their annual meeting, the Utah women won took down the Cougars 169-131, the tenth success in as many years. With the women's side earning 13 gold medals, three personal bests and two sweeps, it was no surprise they came out on top.
Flippin' Amazing
The divers showed out in their home meet against BYU, with a pool and program record on 1m, multiple personal bests and three new Top 10 scores in the record book. Elias Petersen was the first to make a mark at the meet, shattering the 1m pool and program record on 1m. Sydney Kowalski was up next, reaching her 3m zones cut for the first time in her career, effectively earning a new personal best. On day two, Holly Waxman led a sweep on 1m and totaling a score that would bump her to the second-highest spot in the Utah record book, just three points off the record. Jesco Helling finished the weekend for the Utes, earning his rightful place in the 3m section of the record book.
Pool Records Fall
Three Ute Natatorium pool records fell in the Utah vs. BYU rivalry meet on Feb. 8th and 9th. Erin Palmer was the first to write her name in the pool record book, swimming the 50-yard freestyle and clocking in at 22.57. Elias Petersen went next, taking over USC diver Henry Fusaro's 1m record of 402.25 and replacing it with 411.45. The last pool record of the weekend came on the second day from Norah Hay. Her 200-yard backstroke came in at 1:56.13, replacing Utah alum Audrey Reimer's record.
Palmer Shatters Records
Erin Palmer had a record-breaking day in the pool against Wyoming, crushing a program mark in the 100-breast with a time of 1:00.40, a record that had stood since 2014. She also dominated in the 100 free, winning with a time of 49.98. On top of her individual success, Palmer was a key part of Utah's relay wins, proving to be a force across multiple events.
Jones Jumps In
Quinn Jones was named Newcomer of the Week after making a statement in the 1000 free against Wyoming, taking first place with a time of 9:25.69. His endurance and steady pacing allowed him to pull ahead and secure an early win for the Utes. Jones' strong showing in the distance event played a key role in Utah's dominant performance.
Another Diver Dominates
Jesco Helling earned Utah swim and dive it's seventh weekly conference award and sixth to be awarded to the dive team specifically. Helling's two top-four finishes against SMU, who is receiving votes, and Pitt put him in the third highest-scoring diver of the meet, which proved to be the key earn the weekly honor.
Two Pals
Holly Waxman and Elias Petersen were named Big 12 Divers of the week after both finished at the top of their events in the Cal Diving Invitational. Petersen collected a gold medal on each springboard and finished more than 44 points ahead of second place on 3m. Waxman finished the meet with a gold and a silver, staying consistent with just 0.2 of a difference in her 1m preliminary and finals scores. Both divers were the highest-scoring divers on their respective sides.
Waxman's a Winner
Holly Waxman earned her first Big 12 weekly award after smashing the Auburn Diving Invite. Winning the prelims on both springboards, but earning two silver medals and a top-12 spot in the platform finals, Waxman stood out. Beating competitors from Florida State, George Washington and Tennessee, she was the sole owner of the highest 12-dive list on both springboard events.
Callie Calls for Celebration
After her performance at the Texas Diving Invitational, the freshman was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. In her first career invitational, the United Kingdom native earned a place in the 1m final competition, beating out competition from Texas, Stanford, Texas A&M and TCU for a top-12 finish. Her efforts added 12 points to the women's overall score, helping push them into a second-place finish.
Elias Tops Big 12
Petersen earned the first Big 12 weekly award for the swim and dive program after the junior's showing at the home opener against UNLV. Scoring 393.15 on just three dives, the Malmo, Sweden native easily topped the 1m event and came within one point of the school record on the same event. He followed that with a second victory on 3m, earning 376.73.
Lambert Lights Up
During midseason, freshman Jones Lambert scratched his name into the Utah top-10 times record book with three different races. Finishing second in the 500-yard freestyle, fifth in the 200-free and fourth in the 1650-free, Lambert was the second-highest point-earner on Utah, accumulating 46 points.
Looking Ahead
After the five-day conference meet, the dive squad will head back to Federal Way, Wash. for NCAA Diving Zones, on March 10-March 12, to compete for a spot at NCAA championships.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UTAHswimdive | Instagram: @utahswimdive | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahUtesSwimDive), and the official mobile app of Utah Athletics, Utah360 -- download here.
The last time the Utes competed at a conference championship was in the Pac-12 in 2024. Both teams ended in sixth, moving up from their projected totals of eighth. After being in the Pac-12 for 13 years, the Big 12 championship meet will look different for the Utes.
"It's a new for us to be in this conference," said head coach Jonas Persson. "It's new to have the men and women compete at the same time and it's new to have our male divers compete alongside our male swimmers. So, it's certainly going to be a very special week."
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday:
| 6:00 p.m. | Finals (Relays and Team Diving Event) |
Wednesday:
| 11:00 a.m. | Swim Prelims |
| 12:30 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 7:00 p.m. |
Diving Prelims (W- 1m, M- 3m) Women's 1m Finals Swim Finals and Men's 3m Final |
Thursday:
| 11:00 a.m. | Swim Prelims |
| 12:30 p.m. | Diving Prelims (M- 1m, W- 3m) |
| 6:15 p.m. 7:00 p.m. |
Men's 1m Finals Swim Finals and Women's 3m Final |
Friday:
| 11:00 a.m. | Swim Prelims |
| 12:30 p.m. | Diving Prelims (M- Platform) |
| 7:00 p.m. | Swim finals and Men's Platform Final |
Saturday:
| 11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. |
Swim Prelims Diving Prelims (W- Platform) Swim Finals and Women's Platform Final |
"We are all very excited about the conference championships coming up this week," said Persson. "Our two teams have been training really hard and are physically, emotionally and mentally ready for it.
Lookin' for More NCAA Cuts
- Nick Chirafisi's last fully-tapered meet earned him three NCAA B-cuts, in the 200-yard freestyle, 500-free and the mile.
- Jones Lambert grabbed his first career NCAA B-cut in the 500-free at the Art Adamson Invitational, the last time he was fully tapered and suited up.
- On the women's side, Erin Palmer earned two B-cuts, one in the 50-yard freestyle while tapered at midseason and another at Wyoming in the 100-yard breaststroke, where she also set a new school record.
- Earning an NCAA B-cut, Brandon Miller swam a 1:42.17 in the 200-yard backstroke and a personal best in the 200-yard freestyle at midseason.
- At the Toyota U.S. Open Championships, Norah Hay swam into a B-cut in the 100-yard backstroke with a 53.11, before earning a second B-cut in the 200-back against BYU.
On the diving side, Utah is looking forward to competing the newly-recognized team event. Not only will they be able to use it as practice for future meets, but the Big 12 recognizes it and scores it equivalently to a swim relay. This will be the first time the Utes get to compete the team event at conference and the points will count toward the teams' overall score.
"This is going to be a fun meet. We believe we can compete with the best of the conference and we have a great opportunity to assert our program as the one to beat in the conference." said head diving coach Richard Marschner. "Our team is very good and very deep and as a result, we have multiple divers who can compete for Big 12 Championship titles. Personally, I am thrilled for our divers to have the chance to compete in the team event as an official scored event. It is past time for divers to have this type of opportunity and I am so thankful to be in a forward-thinking conference like the Big 12. I know our divers are incredibly excited about competing in the team event and it should be a very exciting week."
Big (12) Dives
- Seven of the eight divers earned at least one NCAA Zones cut this season, taking advantage of the opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Championship meet.
- Four divers, Jesco Helling, Holly Waxman, Kathryn Grant and Callie Eaglestone have their Zones cut on all three events, while Sydney Kowalski and Elias Petersen each marked down a place on two boards.
- Elias Petersen will be fighting for a top spot on the springboard events after walking away from the 2024 Pac-12 Championship with a silver medal on 3m.
- Kathryn Grant finished the 2024 Pac-12 meet with a top-eight finish in both the 1m and platform events. The junior continued on to NCAAs, where she competing all three events.
- Holly Waxman finished in 4th-place at conference in 2024 on both platform and 3m. Waxman went on to become an All-American on all three events at NCAAs.
"I think that we are going to see some great success from our swimmers and divers, which they deserve, and I can't wait to get started," said Persson.
Triple Threat
Elias Petersen was awarded his third Big 12 weekly award after breaking the pool and program record on 1m in the rivalry meetup against BYU. Petersen is the first Utah student-athlete to receive three conference honors in the new Big 12 era.
Down Fall the Cougars
In their annual meeting, the Utah women won took down the Cougars 169-131, the tenth success in as many years. With the women's side earning 13 gold medals, three personal bests and two sweeps, it was no surprise they came out on top.
Flippin' Amazing
The divers showed out in their home meet against BYU, with a pool and program record on 1m, multiple personal bests and three new Top 10 scores in the record book. Elias Petersen was the first to make a mark at the meet, shattering the 1m pool and program record on 1m. Sydney Kowalski was up next, reaching her 3m zones cut for the first time in her career, effectively earning a new personal best. On day two, Holly Waxman led a sweep on 1m and totaling a score that would bump her to the second-highest spot in the Utah record book, just three points off the record. Jesco Helling finished the weekend for the Utes, earning his rightful place in the 3m section of the record book.
Pool Records Fall
Three Ute Natatorium pool records fell in the Utah vs. BYU rivalry meet on Feb. 8th and 9th. Erin Palmer was the first to write her name in the pool record book, swimming the 50-yard freestyle and clocking in at 22.57. Elias Petersen went next, taking over USC diver Henry Fusaro's 1m record of 402.25 and replacing it with 411.45. The last pool record of the weekend came on the second day from Norah Hay. Her 200-yard backstroke came in at 1:56.13, replacing Utah alum Audrey Reimer's record.
Palmer Shatters Records
Erin Palmer had a record-breaking day in the pool against Wyoming, crushing a program mark in the 100-breast with a time of 1:00.40, a record that had stood since 2014. She also dominated in the 100 free, winning with a time of 49.98. On top of her individual success, Palmer was a key part of Utah's relay wins, proving to be a force across multiple events.
Jones Jumps In
Quinn Jones was named Newcomer of the Week after making a statement in the 1000 free against Wyoming, taking first place with a time of 9:25.69. His endurance and steady pacing allowed him to pull ahead and secure an early win for the Utes. Jones' strong showing in the distance event played a key role in Utah's dominant performance.
Another Diver Dominates
Jesco Helling earned Utah swim and dive it's seventh weekly conference award and sixth to be awarded to the dive team specifically. Helling's two top-four finishes against SMU, who is receiving votes, and Pitt put him in the third highest-scoring diver of the meet, which proved to be the key earn the weekly honor.
Two Pals
Holly Waxman and Elias Petersen were named Big 12 Divers of the week after both finished at the top of their events in the Cal Diving Invitational. Petersen collected a gold medal on each springboard and finished more than 44 points ahead of second place on 3m. Waxman finished the meet with a gold and a silver, staying consistent with just 0.2 of a difference in her 1m preliminary and finals scores. Both divers were the highest-scoring divers on their respective sides.
Waxman's a Winner
Holly Waxman earned her first Big 12 weekly award after smashing the Auburn Diving Invite. Winning the prelims on both springboards, but earning two silver medals and a top-12 spot in the platform finals, Waxman stood out. Beating competitors from Florida State, George Washington and Tennessee, she was the sole owner of the highest 12-dive list on both springboard events.
Callie Calls for Celebration
After her performance at the Texas Diving Invitational, the freshman was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. In her first career invitational, the United Kingdom native earned a place in the 1m final competition, beating out competition from Texas, Stanford, Texas A&M and TCU for a top-12 finish. Her efforts added 12 points to the women's overall score, helping push them into a second-place finish.
Elias Tops Big 12
Petersen earned the first Big 12 weekly award for the swim and dive program after the junior's showing at the home opener against UNLV. Scoring 393.15 on just three dives, the Malmo, Sweden native easily topped the 1m event and came within one point of the school record on the same event. He followed that with a second victory on 3m, earning 376.73.
Lambert Lights Up
During midseason, freshman Jones Lambert scratched his name into the Utah top-10 times record book with three different races. Finishing second in the 500-yard freestyle, fifth in the 200-free and fourth in the 1650-free, Lambert was the second-highest point-earner on Utah, accumulating 46 points.
Looking Ahead
After the five-day conference meet, the dive squad will head back to Federal Way, Wash. for NCAA Diving Zones, on March 10-March 12, to compete for a spot at NCAA championships.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UTAHswimdive | Instagram: @utahswimdive | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahUtesSwimDive), and the official mobile app of Utah Athletics, Utah360 -- download here.
Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Distance Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Back/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free/Breast
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & DivingHear It From Harlan with Utah Diving's Holly Waxman
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