Swimmers and Divers Start Conference Action

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PROVO -- BYU swimmers and divers will travel to Fort Worth, Texas Thursday to kick off their first conference meet versus TCU (women 2-0, men 1-1) at 5 p.m. MST.

“We’re looking forward to swimming against people other than ourselves,” said BYU head coach Tim Powers. “We now know each other very well and it’s time to see how we look against the conference.”

The swimmers and divers are ready and excited to start the regular season on the road and compete against other top conference performers. The Cougars are coming off the Friday Blue/White Meet where freshman Candice Smith stunned the coaches, swimming a lifetime-best time in the 100 back (56.69).

“I am looking forward to see what our freshmen will do in Division I swimming,” said Powers.

Other top performers from Friday’s meet included seniors Jacoby Jacobsen and Gregor Greiner, junior Natasha Menezes and sophomores Vytenis Slenys and John Kendrick.

The TCU Horned Frog men and women are coming off a win at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and have only competed in two dual meets. In their first meet against Missouri State, the women won while the men fell to the Bears.

Top competitors for TCU will be Kaitlyn Vann, Ashley Bolin, Jeff Gettel and Jason Hauck. Hauck swam a personal-best time in the 100 free at UTPB (48.79).

Last season both the men’s and the women’s teams beat the Horned Frogs at home where the women won every race by the help of Menenzes, Aleesha Miller and Sara Jayne Christiansen who each chalked up two event titles. The men swept the relays and were led by Slenys who won both the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke events.

After Thursday’s bout at the pool the Cougar women will travel to Albuquerque, N.M. Saturday to take on New Mexico and Northern Arizona University at 11 a.m. and will later join the men to travel to Long Beach, Calif. for the Lincoln Shootout Nov. 8-9.

For more information visit www.byucougars.com/swimming_diving