TEMPE, Ariz. – A pair of Pac-12 heavyweights are set to pay a visit to the Sun Devil Swim & Dive program this weekend at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
Both Sun Devil squads will welcome No. 12/3 Stanford (Friday, January 20, at 2 p.m.) and No. 3/11 California (Saturday, January 21, 12 p.m.) in what is shaping up to be one of the biggest tests of the season.
The Sun Devil Men return to the pool for the first time in 2023, sporting a No. 1 ranking in the nation for the first time in program history. The Sun Devil Women are less than a week removed from an impressive drubbing of Washington State, 206-56, in which they won each of the 14 races of the afternoon.
Live results can be tracked via the Meet Mobile app. A link to the live stream is available here.
SUN DEVIL NOTABLES
- The dominance rolls on for Léon Marchand. At the midseason NC State Invite, he won every event he competed in, which included the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay and the 400 medley relay. He's now a perfect 13-for-13 in individual events to begin the season.
- In their big win over the Cougars last weekend, Lindsay Looney, Iza Adame, Ieva Maluka and Charli Brown combined for eight wins in individual events. The quartet continues to provide for the Sun Devils this season.
- The nation's fastest 200 fly times belong to a pair of Sun Devils in Marchand (1:39.57) and Alex Colson (1:40.78). For good measure, Marchand also has the country's top times in both the 200 IM (1:39.28) and 400 IM (3:33.65).
PREVIEWING THE OPPOSITION
The No. 3 Cal Men are the reigning NCAA Champions and Pac-12 Champions, having won the conference tournament in five consecutive seasons. They return 2022 NCAA Champions Destin Lasco (200 back) Hugo Gonzalez (400 IM), along with three of four from last spring's national championship 400 medley relay team of Lesco, Reese Whitley and Björn Seeliger.
Whitley, Seeliger, Gonzalez and Lasco have combined for nine NCAA Championship titles and 28 Pac-12 Championship titles.
The No. 11 Cal Women also return many major contributors from the 2022 season in which they placed eighth overall. Ayla Spitz, Mia Motekaitis and Leah Polonsky are three of four from last spring's 800 free relay group that took third in the nation.
Similarly, both Stanford squads possess the kind of talent and depth that make them perennial contenders.
The No. 12 Stanford Men, after a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships a season ago, are powered by Andrei Minakov, who was a national champion in last year's 100 fly, but also took third in the 100 free.
Minakov is a three-time conference champion and holds eight Stanford records.
The No. 3 Stanford Women captured their 24th Pac-12 Championship last spring and return Torri Huske, Taylor Ruck, Morgan Tankersley and others. The Cardinal teamed up for three NCAA Championship titles last March.
Along with winning the 800 free relay at last year's NCAAs, Huske did damage in plenty of other events, as well. She was runner-up in the 100 fly, 200 IM, 400 free relay and was third in the 400 medley relay
MEET WEEK READING
Associate head coach Rachel Stratton-Mills is fueled by her passion for swimming, coaching and teaching. Six years after her hiring, she continues to help the Sun Devils soar to new heights.
'These athletes are giving us their all, so they deserve a coach who does, as well': Passion Is What Continues to Drive Stratton-Mills at ASU
FOLLOW ALONG
Don't miss out on the action and keep up with the team via the @ASUSwimDive Twitter account.