FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – The Sun Devils started the 2018 Pac-12 Women's Swimming and Men's/Women's Diving Championship on a high note with a Pac-12 Championship in the first event of the weekend.
Sophomore Youssef Selim improved upon a second-place finish last season as a freshman to win his first-ever Pac-12 Championship in the 1-meter dive (382.90). After finishing first in the prelims, Selim bested the second-place finisher by nearly 30 points in the finals.
"He dove really well and he really put it together on his last two dives to solidify the title after building a lead," said head diving coach Mark Bradshaw. "He was a bit nervous because he knew he'd be in contention and he's worked hard for it, so I'm glad he was able to do this even with his better events ahead of him."
For the Sun Devils it was the first Pac-12 men's diving title in four years since Riley McCormick (3-meter) and Luke Clohessy (Platform) each won titles in 2014. In the 1-meter, it was the 10th all-time and first since 2008.
"It means a lot to the program to have our first men's diving title in four years," Bradshaw continued. "If you look at our history, we've done well in the men's events so this is a great feeling to get back there. We have a lot more events to go so we're hoping to continue this momentum he started."
In the first two women's swimming relay events of the weekend, ASU's A-team (Chloe Isleta, Silja Kansakoski, Fanny Teijonsalo, and Claire Fisch) finished fifth in the 200 medley relay while the A-team finished sixth in the 800 free relay (Kendall Dawson, Emma Nordin, Erica Laning, Marlies Ross).
The Devils' 800 free relay time is good for third-fastest in school history (7:05.61).
The men's diving points will be added to next week's men's swimming points to award a men's overall champion and a men's Territorial Cup point winner. A women's swimming/diving champion as well as a women's Territorial Cup Series point will be awarded this week.
After two women's events, Cal leads with 18 points followed by Stanford (112) and USC (108). U of A (104) is in fourth while ASU is tied for fifth (98) with UCLA. Washington State (92), Utah (88), and Oregon State (42) round out the bottom three.
Thursday will be the first full day of action with several prelim and finals events in both women's swimming and men's/women's diving. The full schedule for day two is below.
Thursday, February 22
10:30 am PT – 500 Free (P), 200 IM (P), 50 Free (P)
12 pm PT – Men's 3-Meter (P)
2:15 pm PT – Women's 1-Meter (P)
4:45 pm PT – Women's 1-Meter (F)
6 pm PT – 500 Free (F), 200 IM (F), 50 Free (F), Men's 3-Meter (F), 200 Free Relay (TF)
All information for the championships can be found at www.pac-12.com/swimdivechamps. Live results will be at http://results.teamunify.com/pnws2/ while Thursday will be streamed live on Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app.
ASU Men's 1-Meter Pac-10/12 Champions
1979 – Dan LaSarge (476.16)
1980 – Duwan Ericson (465.80)
1982 – Ron Piemonte (427.85)
1983 – Dan Plant (477.95)
2003 – Joona Puhakka (385.75)
2004 – Joona Puhakka (381.20)
2005 – Joona Puhakka (387.50)
2006 – Joona Puhakka (417.00)
2008 – Micky Benedetti (366.20)
2018 – Youssef Selim (382.90)
Sophomore Youssef Selim improved upon a second-place finish last season as a freshman to win his first-ever Pac-12 Championship in the 1-meter dive (382.90). After finishing first in the prelims, Selim bested the second-place finisher by nearly 30 points in the finals.
"He dove really well and he really put it together on his last two dives to solidify the title after building a lead," said head diving coach Mark Bradshaw. "He was a bit nervous because he knew he'd be in contention and he's worked hard for it, so I'm glad he was able to do this even with his better events ahead of him."
For the Sun Devils it was the first Pac-12 men's diving title in four years since Riley McCormick (3-meter) and Luke Clohessy (Platform) each won titles in 2014. In the 1-meter, it was the 10th all-time and first since 2008.
"It means a lot to the program to have our first men's diving title in four years," Bradshaw continued. "If you look at our history, we've done well in the men's events so this is a great feeling to get back there. We have a lot more events to go so we're hoping to continue this momentum he started."
Youssef Selim: Your #Pac12Swim 1m men's diving champion out of @ASUSwimDive ???? pic.twitter.com/zzEbxNDoWw
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 22, 2018
In the first two women's swimming relay events of the weekend, ASU's A-team (Chloe Isleta, Silja Kansakoski, Fanny Teijonsalo, and Claire Fisch) finished fifth in the 200 medley relay while the A-team finished sixth in the 800 free relay (Kendall Dawson, Emma Nordin, Erica Laning, Marlies Ross).
The Devils' 800 free relay time is good for third-fastest in school history (7:05.61).
The men's diving points will be added to next week's men's swimming points to award a men's overall champion and a men's Territorial Cup point winner. A women's swimming/diving champion as well as a women's Territorial Cup Series point will be awarded this week.
After two women's events, Cal leads with 18 points followed by Stanford (112) and USC (108). U of A (104) is in fourth while ASU is tied for fifth (98) with UCLA. Washington State (92), Utah (88), and Oregon State (42) round out the bottom three.
Thursday will be the first full day of action with several prelim and finals events in both women's swimming and men's/women's diving. The full schedule for day two is below.
Thursday, February 22
10:30 am PT – 500 Free (P), 200 IM (P), 50 Free (P)
12 pm PT – Men's 3-Meter (P)
2:15 pm PT – Women's 1-Meter (P)
4:45 pm PT – Women's 1-Meter (F)
6 pm PT – 500 Free (F), 200 IM (F), 50 Free (F), Men's 3-Meter (F), 200 Free Relay (TF)
All information for the championships can be found at www.pac-12.com/swimdivechamps. Live results will be at http://results.teamunify.com/pnws2/ while Thursday will be streamed live on Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app.
ASU Men's 1-Meter Pac-10/12 Champions
1979 – Dan LaSarge (476.16)
1980 – Duwan Ericson (465.80)
1982 – Ron Piemonte (427.85)
1983 – Dan Plant (477.95)
2003 – Joona Puhakka (385.75)
2004 – Joona Puhakka (381.20)
2005 – Joona Puhakka (387.50)
2006 – Joona Puhakka (417.00)
2008 – Micky Benedetti (366.20)
2018 – Youssef Selim (382.90)