Marusakova, Kleinman show out in swim and dive's Blue and White Meet

Emma Marusakova and Max Kleinman led all women’s and men’s scorers, respectively, as BYU swim and dive previewed the coming 2024-25 season with its annual Blue and White Meet at the Richards Building Pool on Friday night.

BYU swimmer Emma Marusakova prepares to swim backstroke at the 2024 Blue and White Meet.BYU swimmer Emma Marusakova prepares to swim backstroke at the 2024 Blue and White Meet.

PROVO, Utah — Emma Marusakova and Max Kleinman led all women’s and men’s scorers, respectively, as BYU swim and dive previewed the coming 2024-25 season with its annual Blue and White Meet at the Richards Building Pool on Friday night.

Team White won the meet over Team Blue 678-641 after a spirited evening of competition featuring four rounds of knock-out style 50-yard events along with finals in six events and a mixed 800 free relay.

"I am incredibly proud of our athletes this week," said BYU head swim and dive coach Tamber McAllister. "We not only enjoyed bonding and competing together throughout the entire week, but we introduced a physically demanding sprint meet to get everyone into race mode. This experience has better prepared them for next week's season-opener."

Emma Marusakova led Team Blue and all scorers on the night with 65 points totaled from wins in seven races. Marusakova swept each round of the 50 back and closed the night with a win at 26.19.

Max Kleinman posted a Team White high 58 points with five event wins, including thee of the four rounds in the 50 back and posting 22.78 to win the final. A freshman from Gilbert, Arizona, Kleinman is recently returned from full-time missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Detroit, Michigan.

Team White divers were led by 18 points from Alexia Jackson Hansen’s wins on the 1-meter (423.15, 11 dives) and 3-meter (303.25, six dives).

Jordan Tiffany (45), Emerson Edwards (39), Sarah Eliason (39) and Tatum Cooley (32) followed Kleinman to lead Team White’s winning 678 points. Tiffany took the win in each round of the 50 fly on his way to a 20.72 finish in the final. Edwards won 50 breast final in 25.29 while Eliason and Cooley won the 50 fly and free in 25.04 and 23.4, respectively.

Mackenzie Miller Lung (45), Joshua Reed (40), Tanner Edwards (27) and Peter Etzold (27) rounded out the scoring for Team Blue. Miller Lung finished the night strong with a 29.2 to claim the 50 breast final. Reed clocked 45.72 to win the 100 free then worked his way to a win in the 50 free final with a time of 20.55.

Chase Hindmarsh tacked on 18 points to Team Blue’s totals with wins on the men’s 1-meter (330.25, six dives) and 3-meter (334.80, six dives).

“Tonight was a good combination of fun and working on the dives we’re going to use next week in Grand Junction,” said BYU head diving coach Tyce Routson. “I’m optimistic. We have some more honing to do this week but I’m proud of the energy our divers brought.”

BYU men’s and women’s swim and dive opens its 2024-25 season at the Intermountain Shootout hosted by Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colorado Oct. 4-5.