Petersen Earns Second All-America Nod at NCAA Championships

Friday, March 27

Atlanta, GA

All Day

University of Utah

NCAA Championships

Diving during the 2026 Big12 Swimming and Diving Championship in Greensboro, N.C. Thursday February 26th, 2026 (Photo by Kara Durrette/Big 12 Conference)

Photo by: Photo by Kara Durrette/Big 12 Conference

Petersen Earns Second All-America Nod at NCAA Championships

3/27/2026 2:48 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving

Senior leads Utes with 12th-place finish on 3-meter

ATLANTA – For the second day in a row, senior Elias Petersen earned All-America recognition, this time on the 3-meter springboard at the NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships inside the McAuley Aquatic Center on Friday.

Petersen closed out his stellar Utah career on the 3-meter board, logging a 375.10 list total to place 12th overall in prelims. It marks the highest finish on the 3-meter board by a Utah Ute during the Marschner era. Five of his six dives scored over 60 points, including a 65.10 for his Forward 3 1/2 Sommersault Pike in the fifth round. The senior finished just nine points off a spot in the final round.

"Being able to coach Elias has been a gift, and our relationship and how we've grown together shows everything that's right with college sports," head diving coach Richard Marschner said. "Having the opportunity to get to know and develop him as a person and a diver over four years has been incredible. He's grown with the program and helped take this program to new heights, he helps with nearly everything and his work ethic is unparalleled. I'm so thankful to have had that opportunity to be his coach, and we're going to miss him."

With his 12th-place result, Petersen earned a spot on the All-America second team. The Malmo, Sweden, native placed seventh on the 1-meter on Thursday, scoring a 354.80 in finals to earn first team All-America, an honor he also earned at the 2025 NCAA Championships.

Petersen becomes Utah's career leader in points scored at the NCAA Championships, amassing 32 points between the 2025 and 2026 championships. He also becomes the first two-time all-American in the same season in Utah program history since Sterling Richards in 2006.

"This whole team has meant so much to me, my family, and my kids," Marschner added. "This program is one of the best in the country and I'm so proud of what we have done. From Elias, Kathryn [Grant], Callie [Eaglestone], and going back to the OGs, it's been just a joy to coach everybody here."

In the pool, Nick Chirafisi wrapped up his championships in the 500 Free, touching the wall in 4:17.63 to place 33rd overall. Chirafisi capped a strong junior season in which he took gold in the 500 and 1650 Free at the Big 12 Championships, set the program record in the 200 and 500 Free and tallied 11 first-place finishes over the course of the season.

"Nick had a good swim this morning," head coach Jonas Persson said. "He was a little bit over his personal best, but I believe he went out and performed at his absolute best. He had a great attitude and represented the University of Utah in a wonderful way. I can't be more proud of Nick and how far he has come, and I'm super excited to see what he can do next year."

Looking Ahead
Evan VanBrocklin will compete in the 200 Fly and 200 IM on Saturday to close out the NCAA Championships. Prelims get underway at 8 a.m. MT.

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