How BYU women’s swim and dive overcame 14-year drought against Utah

For the first time in 14 years, the BYU women’s swim and dive team defeated Utah, snapping a losing streak that had defined the in-state rivalry for more than a decade.

The Cougars secured a 160-140 victory, marking the program’s first win over the Utes since 2012. To put the drought in perspective: None of the current swimmers or divers had even entered high school the last time BYU topped Utah.

“Our women’s team knew it had been a long time since BYU had beaten Utah,” senior Lily Flint said. “But nobody realized how long until a couple nights before the meet when coach Tamber [McAllister] sent us the article from 2012. We’ve never been far from beating them, so it was a shock.”

While the final score reflected a competitive meet, the significance extended beyond the scoreboard. Utah had controlled the women’s side of the rivalry for 13 straight matchups. This time, BYU approached the blocks with a different level of confidence.

For McAllister, the shift was rooted in belief and preparation.

“The biggest change was their mindset,” the coach said. “In previous meets, there was hesitation against such a tough opponent. This time, they flipped the script and attacked every race and dive with aggressive confidence.”

The Cougars entered the meet in the middle of a demanding stretch, competing in their fifth meet in six weeks — an grueling rhythm in collegiate swimming. Rather than wearing down, Flint said the team continued to improve, even breaking pool records at a home meet earlier in season.

“Those kinds of results usually come at the end of the year at a tapered meet,” Flint said. “But to see that in January, the team felt like something was coming.”

McAllister credited depth across both the lanes and the boards as the deciding factor in the 20-point margin, noting that second-and third-place finishes were critical in building separation.

“In a tight race like that, every point matters,” McAllister said. “Our swimmers fighting for those finishes, along with key contributions from diving, pushed us over the edge.”

Senior diver Sophia DeBergh said the diving group focused strictly on execution rather than the scoreboard.

“We didn’t really know how close the swim races were,” DeBergh said. “We just focused on what we knew how to do. Being part of the group that ended the streak is amazing. Proving to ourselves that we could do it after all those years is the biggest reward.”

Before the meet began, Flint addressed the team in the locker room, reminding them of the stakes.

“I told the girls we were going to be the first 30 women on the roster in 13 years to have a win over Utah,” Flint said. “Immediately, we were dialed in.”

As the final event concluded and the result became official, the deck erupted in celebration. For Flint, winning her final home dual meet against a rival was a defining moment.

“I hated losing to Utah,” she said. “Winning my last home dual meet is something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”