Jan. 24, 2013
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State swimming and diving team will compete in their final home conference meets of the 2012-13 season, facing Stanford on Friday and California on Saturday.
Friday’s meet versus Stanford begins with men’s competition at 12 p.m., with the women’s competition following directly after. The dual against California on Saturday, which is the official senior meet, is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
The weekend will see the final competition at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center for five male senior members. The women, who will graduate six members of their squad, have one home meet remaining on Feb. 2 against Northern Arizona.
Men’s Swimming/Diving Seniors
Stephen Estes: Estes is seventh all-time in the 100 breaststroke for Arizona State, and currently holds a 3.7 GPA in the mechanical engineering program with a concurrent masters in aerospace engineering. He is a two-time winner of the Allstate Good Neighbor Award, a nominee for the 2012 Pac-12 Sportsmanship Award, and a 2013 Coach Wooden Cup nominee. Estes was named to the 2011 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team and also competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials.
Deniz Hekmati: Hekmati will be graduating with a degree in Exercise and Wellness with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology and has made the dean’s list every semester while studying at Arizona State. He recently became a certified personal trainer as well. Hekmati placed 13th last year in the 100 breast at the Pac-12 Championships, recording a personal best.
Derek Knittle: A two-time Pac-12 All-Academic First Team member, Knittle graduates after his second year as a team captain. He has a 3.47 GPA in Finance & Accountancy with an International Business Studies certificate. Knittle has been honored as a Scholar Baller every semester since being at ASU.
Harrison Jones: Has made an immediate impact after transfering to ASU for his senior season. Jones was named Pac-12 Diver of the Month for November, his first with ASU and fourth total in his career. The senior is a contender for an National Championship after twice sweeping reigning NCAA Champion Kristian Ipsen on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard competitions.
Sean Niccolucci: Niccolucci, a finance major from Missoula, Mont., earned consecutive honorable mentions for the Pac-12 All-Academic Team his sophomore and junior seasons.
Julius Schmidt: With a GPA of 3.8 in the Marketing program, Schmidt has placed on the dean’s list in the W.P. Carey School of Business for seven consecutive semesters. He is currently striving to achieve the 1A FAR Academic Excellence Award.
Women’s Swimming Seniors
Lizzy Luttrell: A dean’s list member and Scholar Baller all four years, Luttrell, a communications major, earned First Team Pac-12 All-Academic honors her junior year and Second Team honors her sophomore year. She also competed in the Olympic Trials in both the 200 back and 100 fly.
Robyn Mathews: Mathews has a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in the kinesiology program with a minor in communications. A member of SAAC, she plans on applying to graduate school for a master’s in either kinesiology or global health. Mathews has been honored as a Scholar Baller every semester of study.
Cassie Morrice: Morrice is graduating from ASU with a degree in communications. She competed in five events at the 2012 NCAA Championships, and has earned All-American honorable mention in the 800 free relay. Morrice is also a member of the Canadian National Team.
Taylor Wohrley: Majoring in communications with a minor in French, Wohrley is a two-time NCAA All-American and a three-time NCAA qualifier in the 200 free and 200 backstroke.