By Kyra Geithman
Pac-12 men’s swimming and diving had another banner year, with California capturing the NCAA Championship, their third in four years. The Golden Bears were also Conference champions for the second-straight season, headlining a strong year for Pac-12 programs. Head coach Dave Durden received NCAA Division I Coach of the Year honors, as well.
Arizona, USC, Stanford and Arizona State joined the Bears in the top 25 at the national championships. The Wildcats, Trojans and Cardinal claimed the seventh, eighth and ninth spots in the final results, respectively, with the Sun Devils coming in at 23rd. UTAH weighed in at 35th overall, while Cal Poly was 46th.
Individually, Pac-12 teams claimed 10 titles, including four of the five relay events. California claimed the 200 freestyle relay title, as well as the 200 and 400 medley relay championships, while USC picked up the 800 freestyle relay title. A Pac-12 student athlete finished in the top eight in all 21 events. Arizona junior Kevin Cordes repeated in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, setting a new American record in the process. Cal freshman Ryan Murphy capped his first season with the Golden Bears with two individual championships in the 100 and 200 backstroke. USC junior Cristian Quintero led the Trojans, picking up a title in the 500 free and placing in the top five in the 200 free (second) and 100 free (third). UA’s Brad Tandy made history in the 50 free, tying for first place in only the third tie in the event in NCAA history.
At the Conference championship, teams competed in record-breaking fashion, setting new meet records in eight total events: the 200 medley relay, 800 freestyle relay, 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 200 free, 100 breast and 200 breast. Utah made history with its first-ever individual titles, as Ute Bence Kiraly won the 1650 free and teammate Nick Soedel won the 100 free. Arizona State also grabbed its first-ever individual title in the 200 fly thanks to Alex Coci, making it the first overall individual championship since 2008.
Kevin Cordes received Pac-12 Men’s Swimmer of the Year honors and Ryan Murphy received Pac-12 Men’s Swimming Freshman/Newcomer of the Year while Dave Durden was voted Pac-12 Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year. On the diving side, Stanford’s Kristian Ipsen was voted Pac-12 Men’s Diver of the Year, while teammate Bradley Christiansen was named Pac-12 Men’s Diving Freshman/Newcomer of the Year and Cardinal head coach Rick Schavone was tabbed Pac-12 Men’s Diving Coach of the Year.
