BYU swim and dive opens 2025-26 season at Intermountain Shootout with strong performances

The BYU swim and dive teams dove into the 2025-26 season with an impressive performance, taking first place over Colorado Mesa University and Adams State University at the 2025 Intermountain Shootout hosted in Grand Junction, Colo.

The Cougars outpaced both teams claiming the top times in nearly every event and sweeping in relay and diving competitions. BYU finished the two-day, 44-event meet with a combined total of 928.5 points.

Day 1

BYU started strong, with Katya Hulse, Lucy Warnick, Sarah Eliason and Ana Loveridge winning the women’s 400 medley relay in 3:42.77. The men followed suit, as Jack Burke, Peter Etzold, Tanner Edwards and Max Kleinman took first in the men’s 400 medley relay finishing in 3:14.03.

Several Cougars topped their individual events.

• Lucy Warnick  - 200 IM
•  Emma Marusakova  - 100 backstroke
• Mattia Reina - 200 butterfly
•  Tanner Nelson - 1000 freestyle
•  Peter Etzold  - 100 breaststroke

First-year athletes made an immediate impact. Freshman Brinley Knoll won the women’s 100 IM in 57.51, moving her to second all-time in BYU history for that event. She was also the only Cougar to swim it.

On the men's side, sophomore Max Kleinman broke the school record in the men’s 100 IM with a time of 47.81. He was joined by Andrew Eliason, who now ranks fourth all-time in program history after clocking 50.28.

Kleinman raced alongside Andrew Eliason who also took his place as fourth over-all in the program with a time of 50.28.

The dive team added valuable points as well.

• Freshman Brooklyn Geockeritz placed first with a score of 271.05.
• Mari Llop, from Spain, finished third in the men’s competition with 306.90.
• Additional strong dives came from Ashton Sparks (235.13), Elijah Baker (187.13), Aubryn Ordyna (206.70), and Betty Martin (184.13).

Day 2

Day 2 opened with another double victory in the 200 medley relays.

• The women’s team of Marusakova, Warnick, Eliason, and Loveridge clocked in at 1:42.08. 
• The men’s team of Bryce Broadhead, Etzold, Edwards, and Kleinman won in 1:27.37. 

Both BYU “B” relay teams followed closely behind, showcasing the team’s depth.

In distance freestyle, Melissa Turlea took second in the 500 free with a time of 4:59.83, followed by Victoria Schreiber (5:00.13) and Cher Patrick, who followed Schreiber with a time at 5:07.26.

In the men’s 500 freestyle, BYU secured top four finishes, further adding to the team's dominant scoring.

Kleinman set another personal best and placed second overall in the program at BYU in the 50 butterfly with a time of 20.96. Kleinman also become the first BYU swimmer to achieve an 18 split on the 50 free as the anchor. He moved from sixth to fifth on BYU’s all-time list in the men’s 100-yard butterfly (46.80).

The team saw many first place finishes Joshua Reed, Bonnett, Broadhead, and Etzold in the mens competition and from Eason Jones, Haylee Tiffany, Warnick and Loveridge.

Loveridge set the mark for the second-fastest time in the program's history for 50 fly with 24.90.

Freshman Sophie Scoville made her mark in the competition, but also in the BYU record books. She made the 10-fastest time for the 50 fly with a 25.57.

The diving wrapped up the competition with Llop and Geockeritz on the leader board.

The Cougars will make their way to Las Vegas to face the UNLV Rebels on Friday, Nov. 7.