Ute Swimming & Diving Takes Seventh at Pac-12 Women's Championships

Ute Swimming & Diving Takes Seventh at Pac-12 Women's Championships
Four Utes qualify for NCAA Championships

Junior Nicole Ligeza records her third NCAA qualifying time.

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – The Pac-12 Conference Championships came to a close with the University of Utah swimming & diving team finishing seventh with a total of 347 points. The Utes topped Oregon State (297) and Washington State (189), while Stanford came away with the Pac-12 title (1439.5).

"We had an incredible support in the stands tonight with parents and fans," said Utah interim coach Richard Marschner. "The Pac-12 network recorded the evening's events which made for an exciting stmosphere. Standout swims came from Petra Soininen and Nicole Ligeza with Ligeza claiming a new school record in the 200 Breast. On the diving side, three Utes scored top-eight performances in the platform competition, making it our most successful diving event of the meet."

Junior Ligeza led the Utes, recording three NCAA 'B' qualifying times over the four-day meet. She earned her final qualification in the 200 breast, recording 2:14.55 for 14th place and a new Utah school record.

Freshman Soininen recorded her second NCAA 'B' qualifying time, touching in 15th with a time of 1:59.30

Samantha Zuch placed 12th in the 1650 free (16:40.15), while Danielle Caldwell took 28th in the 200 back (2:02.82).

After taking sixth in the platform dive preliminaries, Kersten Merry improved her scores to take fifth in the finals (255.15).

The Utah Men’s Diving team had their most successful night as Josiah Purss and Nelson Foo both earned spots in the platform finals. Purss ended the night in sixth (290.10), while Foo was eighth (263.50).

The Pac-12 Men’s Championships begin tomorrow at the King County Aquatic Center at 6 p.m. PT in Federal Way, Wash.