PROVO, Utah – For a second year in a row the BYU men’s swimming and diving team won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and the women’s team ended the season strong with a fourth-place finish.
Men’s Swim and Dive
The men were lead by junior captain Jake Taylor who was named a First-Team All-American in the 100-and 200-yard backstroke.
Taylor was named the MPSF/TURBO Athlete of the Week three different times as well as being named the Male Swimmer of the Meet at the MPSF Championships. His 100 and 200 back times were both MPSF Championship meet records.
He additionally set new BYU records in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke at the Texas Invite. He would later break those records at the MPSF Championships and again at the NCAA Championships where he swam the 100 back in 45.34 and the 200 back in 1:39.76.
Senior Hayden Palmer set a new school record in the 200-yard butterfly (1:45.91) at the Texas Invite. The captain was also named to the All-MPSF First Team for his performances in the 200-yard individual medley (1:47.42) and 400-yard individual medley (3:47.52).
Senior Rafael Alfaro earned All-MPSF First Team honors for his performances in the 200 IM (1:46.27) and 400 IM (3:49.70).
Sophomore Rainer Ng was named the MPSF/TURBO Male Athlete of the Week (Feb. 4). Ng was an All-MPSF First Team selection in the 100 back (48.35) and 400-yard medley relay (3:12.16).
Junior Stephen Richards earned All-MPSF First Team honors in the 200-yard breaststroke (1:56.68) and 400 IM (3:50.51).
True freshman diver Nathan Gonzales was the only Cougar diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Gonzales was an All-MPSF First Team selection in the 1-meter (311.80) and platform (270.00).
Sophomore diver Kevin Dreesen was an All-MPSF First Team selection in the 1-meter (353.45) and 3-meter (375.00) in his first season home from his mission.
Women’s Swim and Dive
Sophomore Haley Bertoldo saved her best for last, earning three First-Team All-MPSF honors at the championship meet. She finished the 100-yard butterfly in 53.87, fast enough for third all-time at BYU. Her 100 back time (53.84) ranks second in school history and her 200 back (1:56.83) is third all time. Bertoldo was named the MPSF/TURBO Female Athlete of the Week on January 14.
Senior Ciera Marsh Keller earned First Team All-MPSF honors in the 100 back (54.73) and 200 back (1:59.92). The senior was also named the MPSF/TURBO Female Athlete of the Week on February 11.
Anna Dahl was named to the All-MPSF First Team for her performance in the 100-yard breast (1:02.42) and Ali Tippetts rounded out the First Team selections for the women with a selection in the 3-meter dive (282.45).