(Photo: Casey McNulty/Sun Devil Athletics)
The Arizona State Sun Devils completed their regular season on Feb. 8, but the competition is far from finished. The Sun Devils are now headed to Federal Way, Washington, to compete in their first ever Big 12 Championships.
The ASU men are coming off a men’s Pac-12 Championship win and an NCAA Championship win in 2024. The women came in fifth behind UCLA at the Pac-12 Championships, but with the new teams in the Big 12, this meet has an entirely new outlook.
The Sun Devil men capped their season with an almost undefeated record, only losing to Texas. The Sun Devil women went 8-6, breaking multiple school records along the way. The men are heading into the meet at No. 4 in the nation while the women stand at No. 17. For the Big 12 rankings, both the ASU men and women are ranked first and are in full strength to take action.
One of the most valuable swimmers for the Sun Devils has been sophomore Ilya Kharun. Kharun still holds some of the nation’s leading times in the butterfly events and is a key factor to ASU’s relay success. Graduate Caroline Bentz has been a sprint powerhouse for the women, breaking six school records throughout the season and leading the Big 12 as the top female swimmer.
Houston trails right behind the ASU women seeking a championship title. The Cougars have a 3-3 record, and freshman Lottie Cullen is a rising star for the Cougars, who was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week four times. Cullen specializes in backstroke events while additionally assisting in the 400-yard medley relay.
The Brigham Young men have had a productive season, going 4-1. Senior Jacob Ballard is an all-around weapon for BYU, holding top-ten program times in the 200-yard butterfly and 100-yard breaststroke. The BYU women have not had as much luck holding a 1-4 record. However, freshman Jasmine Anderson could give the team some hope. Anderson has been a prominent breaststroker for BYU’s women’s team and has secured top-three finishes in every meet this season in the 200-yard breaststroke.
The Iowa State women ended their regular season with a conference loss to Kansas, leaving them with a 3-5 record heading into Big 12s. Freshman Grace Swoboda has been a standout for the Cyclones squad this year in the breaststroke events. In addition, she earned herself the sixth fastest time in the 100-yard breaststroke in Iowa State history.
Texas Christian had a smooth sailing season with only one women’s Big 12 matchup against the Cyclones, where the Horned Frogs managed to take home the win. Senior Claire Chahbandour has spent her season crushing the 100-yard breaststroke, and she became the first female in TCU history to swim the event in one minute. Senior Jadon Wuilliez, who was a 2024 Paris Olympian for Antigua and Barbuda, holds multiple school records for the Horned Frogs’ men’s team and has been proficient in the sprint freestyle and breaststroke events.
Last time out, Arizona competed against its in-state rival ASU and left Tempe with a loss. Arizona has also competed against conference opponents BYU and Utah this season.
For the Wildcats, junior Paige Armstrong was named Big 12 Swimmer of the Week in early February alongside Bentz. Armstrong is one of Arizona’s elite backstrokers, winning the 100-yard backstroke at the dual against ASU. Junior Haakon Naughton has remained the men’s top butterfly performer and competed at Pac-12s last year in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly.
Cincinnati has stayed steady this season and has yet to face any Big 12 teams due to its dual against West Virginia being canceled. The Bearcats rounded off their regular season against Louisville earlier this month with losses on both the men’s and women’s teams.
Junior Joleigh Crye, who competed at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, is making her third appearance at a conference championship for the Bearcats. In Crye’s freshman year, she competed at NCAAs as the only female for Cincinnati, and she is currently the team’s best breastroker.
For the Bearcat men, graduate Hunter Gubeno is a top-tier backstroke and freestyler. He also competed at last year‘s U.S. Olympic Team Trials and will be a great help to the Bearcats’ championship performance.
The Utah women have gone 9-2 this season, with the men following right behind with their 7-3 record. Junior Erin Palmer is a notable freestyle and breaststroke sprinter for the women’s team. She broke multiple school records for the Utes this season. Sophomore Nick Chirafisi will be a star distance swimmer for the Utes men’s team.
The West Virginia women finalized their season with a 1-5 overall record, while the men went 1-4. The Mountaineers are arguably the weakest team in the Big 12 and have yet to compete against any of their conference opponents.
Redshirt senior Danny Berlitz is an all-around competitor for the Mountaineers and now holds the sixth-fastest time in program history in the 100-yard backstroke. Sophomore Maddie Smutny, who specializes in distance freestyle, has helped the Mountaineers in the 500-yard freestyle. Additionally, Smutny has dominated the 200-yard butterfly, holding the program’s fifth fastest time.
Kansas’ women’s team has stayed in the running with a 3-4 record this season. The Jayhawks faced two conference teams this season, losing to Houston and winning against Iowa State. Senior Eleni Kotzamanis is heading into this meet with two Big 12 Championship appearances under her belt. Kotzamanis specializes in the mid-distance freestyle events, particularly the 200-yard freestyle.
Now is the time to shine and perform for ASU. The Sun Devils have had a remarkably strong season to carry them to the Big 12 Championships. With ASU being the favorite to sweep the conference title on both the men’s and women’s sides, its relays and individual strengths will be a huge asset to its potential success.
