H2O Cougars Host Utes Thursday

PROVO -- After a week of rest the BYU swim and dive team will be back in the Richards Building pool Thursday at 6 p.m. to host in-state rival Utah in the Deseret First Duel.

The BYU women’s team boasts a perfect 10-0 overall record and 7-0 record in the Mountain West Conference while the Utah women are 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the MWC. The BYU men are 2-4 overall this season and 0-4 in the MWC, the Utah men 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the MWC.

“Any time we swim Utah it’s an event,” BYU head coach Tim Powers said. “We expect a big crowd and a battle on both the men’s and the women’s side. Every event will be highly contested.”

The teams will compete in a 16-event program that will begin at 6 p.m. in the Richards Building pool.

The BYU women are coming off a win at Wyoming where the team broke five different Corbett Pool records. Natasha Menezes, Candice Smith, Rachel Grant, Tawni Jones and the 400 free relay team all broke pool records. Grant won the 200 fly, 100 fly and 200 IM against the Cowgirls.

On the men’s side against Wyoming, freshman Ryan Bills won the 100 fly and 200 IM to lead his team.

Thursday’s meet marks the last dual meet before the MWC Championships Feb. 24-27 in Oklahoma City.