MOSCOW, Idaho. (October 19, 2023) – The Northern Arizona Swimming and Diving program will kick off its 2023 season with a dual meet at Idaho beginning at 4 p.m. MST on Friday afternoon.
NAU is looking to defend its WAC Conference Championship once again from a year ago. Last season saw the Lumberjacks win their 10th consecutive conference title, adding to the decade of dominance from the program.
The Lumberjacks set numerous program records during the 2022-23 season, including having the most consecutive wins in WAC history and scoring the second most points in the conference's history dating back to 1991.
From an individual standpoint, three NAU swimmers broke previous program bests in the 500 freestyle, which Casey Craffey set with a 4:46.36. Haley Mayhew went on to set two records in the 200 individual medley and 200 breaststroke with times of 2:00.04 and 2:12.95, respectively.
A total of five swims from Northern Arizona last year were NCAA 'B' cuts and were ranked in the top 100 in the nation. Thirteen swims from a season ago ended up being in the top five in NAU Swimming and Diving history.
Head diving coach Nikki Kelsey took home honors as the 2023 WAC Diving Coach of the Year for the ninth time in her career at NAU. Northern Arizona divers won two of the three diving events at the WAC Championships this past February.
Northern Arizona will be opening the season on the road for the first time since starting the 2019-20 season at Northern Colorado.
Like last year, the Vandals and Lumberjacks are competing in the first meet of the regular season. In 2022, the two teams were also joined by Arizona Christian and Ottawa. NAU would score an 182-110 victory over their WAC rival and swept the two other schools' last season.
All-time against Idaho, Northern Arizona has won 14 of the 15 meets, including eight straight. The last time the Vandals got the better of NAU in a meet was Nov. 10, 2012, in Moscow.
The Lumberjacks began the season with their pentathlon and blue vs. gold intrasquad scrimmage, leading up to its first meet on Friday.
After a first meet at the College of Idaho, the Vandals kicked off their conference slate two weeks ago when they welcomed Simon Fraser University and fellow WAC opponent GCU. Idaho split the two days with GCU and took care of business with Simon Fraser.
Upon the conclusion of the road trip to Idaho, NAU Swimming and Diving will return to the Wall Aquatic Center to take on New Mexico in a dual meet on Nov. 4.
To stay up to date with NAU Swimming and Diving, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
