RILEY RAINS / SPORTS EDITOR

The USD swim and dive team made waves of success in the conclusion of their seven-month season. The women’s team competed in a total of 13 competitions, the last  of which was this past weekend — the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Swim and Dive Championships in St. George, Utah. During this end-of-season meet, USD competed against all the other schools in the MPSF conference. This year, those teams included California Baptist University, the University of Idaho, New Mexico State University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Northern Colorado, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Utah Tech University, the University of the Incarnate Word, Pacific University and  Pepperdine University. These teams all competed in St. George, Utah. But before their final splash, USD had a very successful season.

Every NCAA swim and dive team, men’s or women’s, has a similarly structured season. Athletes arrive on campus early and condition themselves into shape for dual meets that begin in September. Dual meets are against one other team and help athletes prepare for bigger competitions, like the mid-season meet. These large competitions encourage most swimmers to taper, a rest period, and suit up, which is when athletes wear specific swimsuits that aid in hydrodynamics, to improve results. Divers also have  rituals, one being that they do not shave before  meets,  in  order  to  have more grip during complicated dives.

This year, USD  swim and dive’s mid-season meet was the Utah Tech Invitational in November, where San Diego placed 10th. After this large competition, the swimmers went right back to training. They swam in seven more meets before this past weekend’s MPSF Championship. Gigi Zinis, USD senior and Swim and Dive captain, was proud of the team’s success this season and during conference.

“This season was one of the most successful seasons I have ever seen our team have,”  Zinis said. “We just returned from our conference championship meet, where we got second place overall and had several podium finishes.”

The second-place finish that the Toreros accomplished is an improvement from their ninth-place finish during the 2023-2024 season, making it no surprise that the women are proud. The athletes scored a total of 840.50 points across the four days of competition.

The swimmers were largely successful during the conference, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a difficult challenge. The sessions ran three to four hours long each, with two sessions a day for four days straight. This meant athletes were drying off just to hop right back in and race  physically taxing events. One of the student-athletes, Skylar Bruner, a USD sophomore and 200 backstroker, shared her personal experience racing her favorite event.

“I was  seeded  to  win going into finals, and it’s my best event,” Bruner said. “But I had the mile 20 minutes before it, meaning I would be dirt tired. It was a challenge to believe in my training, and I was so relieved and proud of myself when I pulled through to take first [place]. A very, very painful experience.”

This 200-yard backstroke race was one of the most exciting events of the weekend, as USD formed an all-Torero podium, with Bruner (2:00.84) leading the way in first place. Penelope Leonard (2:00.94), a USD junior, followed in second, and Milian Bever (2:02.70), a USD sophomore, placed third. Just before the race, Bruner won gold in the 1650-yard freestyle, or the mile, with a time of 17:09.49.

On Friday, three different athletes put up lifetime bests in the 100-yard butterfly: Ava Delaney (55.73), Milan Bever (56.71) and Skylar Horder (56.23). Two other Torero student-athletes reached the podium on Friday; Gwendolyn Smith posted a time of 4:31.44 in the 400 individual medley and Catherine Dueck raced to a time of 1:03.62 in the 100 yard breaststroke. These are just a few of the swimmers that performed successfully in St. George, Utah. 

The divers also had positive results, with Jane Reihs, a USD senior, placing third in the three-meter with an overall score of 250.50 and second in the one-meter with a score of 250.80.

Ava Delaney, Mallory Paine and Analeis Vos cheering on Gabrielle Zinis during the 200 freestyle relay. Photo courtesy of @usd.swim.dive/Instagram

These championship meets create a lively environment on the pool deck, as these athletes have been training all season for one competition. Brunner highlighted just how electric attending high-stakes meets can be.

“The energy [at the conference] was insane, and it was nerve-racking and exciting at the same time.”

USD  Swim and Dive, like many other sports, has created a very tight-knit group of women who relentlessly support and uplift one another. Anna Vermeulen, a USD sophomore, displayed just how encouraging teammates can be.

“My favorite moment of this season was swimming with Skylar Bruner in the A final of [the] 500 [freestyle] and her winning,” Vermeulen said. “I cried when I saw the results and cried even harder when she got on the podium.”

Morgan Divita diving off the one-meter during the MPSF Championship meet. Photo courtesy of @usd.swim.dive/Instagram

These athletes go through countless hours of training with one another, so it is no surprise that a team this dedicated builds even more meaningful relationships through the sport. Brunner commented on just how positive the USD swim and dive dynamic is.

“The team chemistry this year was unparalleled,” Brunner said. “USD swim and dive has the best team culture in the country, and I stand behind that. Truly one big family.”

Zinis agreed with Brunner’s sentiment.

“We truly all wish the best for one another and would do anything for each other,” Zinis said. “It is support and love like that  that  gets you through the early mornings and hard days, and that is something I am so grateful for.”

As the season comes to a close, the USD swim and dive team leaves the water with a historic second-place finish. With multiple podium finishes and personal bests, the Toreros have set a new standard for excellence. Their momentum and team spirit remains strong as they prepare to dive into another season of success.

Milan Bever swimming butterfly during a dual meet in January. Photo Courtesy of @usd.swim.dive/Instagram