FLAGSTAFF, Ariz (September 18, 2024) – Following a thrilling 2023-24 season, Head Swimming Coach Andy Johns and Head Diving Coach Nikki Kelsey announced the 2024-25 Swimming and Diving Schedule on Wednesday morning. The 2024-25 season will commence with the annual Pentathlon on Sept. 27, where the Lumberjacks will compete against one another, and Elsa Musselman championed the event in 2023.
Last month Sophomore Keegan Knott represented Team USA at the 2024 Paris Paralympics competing in the S9 Women's 400m Freestyle. Following her performance at the Paralympics, Knott and her teammates will prepare for the 2024-25 season looking to extend the Lumberjacks 11-straight WAC Conference Championship streak.
NAU will host the 42nd Blue vs. Gold meet on Oct. 11 where they will simultaneously host Arizona Christian for a dual meet followed by a trip to Tempe the day after where the Lumberjacks will face all three DI Swimming and Diving programs in Arizona, taking on ASU, Arizona, and GCU on Oct. 12.
The team returns home on Nov. 2 to host Idaho at the Wall Aquatic Center looking to defeat the Vandals for a third-straight season after their last encounter in 2023 saw a 176.5-123.5 final. A week later, NAU will head to Las Cruces to take on the New Mexico State Aggies who last visited Flagstaff as NAU grabbed a 186-114 victory in December of 2023.
The Lumberjacks then go on to compete in the Colorado Mesa Invitational where NAU secured a third-place with 788 points in the 2023 campaign. At the same time, the first Lumberjack Diving Invite of the season will take place on Nov. 21-23. The Lumberjacks placed seven out of eight divers in the 1-meter event to begin the 2023 diving invite in Flagstaff, while Grace Wesche will eye another stellar finish, as she found 4th in platforms, 5th in 3-meter, and 6th in 1-meter.
Starting the final month of 2024, NAU will host Utah Tech on December 6th and 7th, looking to repeat their last big win against the Trailblazers at the Wall Aquatic Center where Sophie Velitchkov, Delaney Phillips, Caylah Jago, and Annie Carlton set a new pool record time of 1:41.08 on the 200-yard medley relay. NAU and Utah Tech will also meet in St. George for a two-day dual on January 24th and 25th.
The first meet of 2025 will take place on Jan. 3 in Tucson where the Lumberjacks will look for a historic first win against the Arizona Wildcats. NAU will also attend California Baptist's diving invite on Jan. 9-11 aiming to secure 1st place in Riverside, Calif. against WAC opponents ahead of conference championships.
The final preparations for WAC Championships will take place in Flagstaff for the diving squad, as the Jacks will host the second Lumberjack Diving Invite on Jan. 30-Feb 1, while the swimmers host the New Mexico Lobos for a final dual meet on Feb. 1.
The official chase for the 12th-straight WAC Championship will begin on Feb. 26, and stretch through to March 1st as the Jacks look to bring home another trophy from Houston to Flagstaff. To stay up to date with NAU Swimming and Diving, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
