This time Utah was victorious in the last event of the meet - the 400 freestyle relay - to defeat Brigham Young University and win the WAC Swimming Championship late Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Earlier in the season, BYU defeated the Utes in a dual meet by winning the 400 relay by two hundredths of a second.But Saturday, Utah's Erik Gustafson, Magnus Frolander, Thomas Nore and Magnus Ronnewall defeated BYU by nearly 3 seconds in a time of 2:59.34 to win the championship with a total of 509 points. BYU finished with 498.
"Our athletes really came through. I knew it was going to be a close battle between Utah and BYU," Utah swimming coach Dennis Tesch reflected Monday. "BYU had an incredibly strong team this year . . . I saved my best performers for that (the 400 relay). We carried the momentum into the last relay and I think that's what helped.
"Both teams deserved the title. BYU swam the best I've seen them swim in a long time. And we swam very well. It's too bad one had to lose," Tesch said.
Ronnewall had an outstanding meet, setting WAC records in the 50 free (19.84), 100 free (44.18) and also winning the 200 free (1:37.87).
Jonas Lundstrom provided two firsts in the distance events - 500 free (4:26.70) and 1,650 free (15:24.08)
Nore had three second-place finishes, 100 breast stroke (56.06), 200 breast stroke (2:00.30) and the 200 individual medley (1:48.87).
Cory Sinclair won the 100 backstroke (49.95) while Brian Keegan was third in both the 100 breast stroke (56.63) and the 200 breast stroke (2:01.67).
The championship is Utah's ninth straight and 24th overall in the WAC.
"I was extremely pleased with the team and felt that we accomplished all of the goals we set out to accomplish in the preseason," said Tesch.
Pending the outcome of other league swimming meets, Utah could have several swimmers qualify for the NCAA Championships in Indiana - Ronnewall in the 50 and 100 free, Lundstrom in the 1650 free and Nore and two relay teams.