TUCSON, Ariz. (January 9, 2026) - The Northern Arizona women's swimming and diving teams faced strong competition to open the new year, competing at separate events Friday afternoon. The divers participated in the first day of the Bruin Diving Invite hosted by UCLA, while the swimmers traveled south to Tucson for a dual meet against the Arizona Wildcats.
In Los Angeles, the Lumberjack divers competed on the 1-meter board and in the team event against a competitive field that included UCLA, Utah, UNLV, California Baptist, Iowa, San Diego State, Hawaiʻi, USC and Idaho.
Grace Wesche led NAU in the 1-meter championship, finishing fifth with a score of 545.80 after climbing six spots from prelims, where she placed 11th with 255.30.
Mackenna Stocker recorded a top-10 finish, placing seventh in the finals with a score of 542.05 after entering finals sixth with a prelim score of 269.50.
Margaret Wesche finished 23rd in the preliminary round with a score of 230.45, narrowly missing the top-18 cut, while Kirsten Clark rounded out the lineup with a score of 193.30 to place 34th.
Utah's Kathryn Grant claimed the 1-meter title with a winning score of 590.05.
In the team event, Northern Arizona placed seventh out of nine teams with a score of 244.20. Hawaiʻi captured the team championship with 281.05.
"All four of our divers were consistent today, with Grace and Mackenna both performing well in the prelims and finals," head diving coach Nikki Kelsey said. "I was very proud of all the divers' efforts and poise through a long event. I'm excited to see them compete again tomorrow on the 3-meter."
The divers will compete on the 3-meter Saturday, followed by the platform event Sunday. Live results are available on DiveMeets.
In Tucson, the Lumberjacks battled a strong Arizona squad at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, falling 164-86.
Arizona captured first place in 13 of the 14 events. Sophomore Teddy Sabev was the lone event winner for NAU, taking first in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:23.43 and winning by over five seconds.
Sabev also placed second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:03.14, just ahead of fellow sophomore Evalotta Aabrams, who finished third at 5:03.39. Aabrams added another runner-up finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:52.01.
Senior Gracie Munk earned two second-place finishes, posting a 56.33 in the 100-yard backstroke and a 2:05.22 in the 200-yard backstroke. Kat Richter placed third in the 200-yard backstroke at 2:09.48.
Kokona Watanabe finished second in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.05, while Elsa Musselman followed closely in third at 52.58. Musselman later placed second in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 56.43, followed by Kaci Kelaher in third at 57.95.
In the 200-yard breaststroke, Mariana Diaz-Ponce placed second with a time of 2:20.65, while Trelise Dance finished third at 2:26.02.
Allie Hayes recorded a second-place finish in the 400-yard IM at 4:33.22, with freshman Summer Ferguson taking third at 4:36.99.
The meet concluded with the 400-yard freestyle relay, where NAU's A team of Watanabe, Musselman, Aabrams and Munk finished second with a time of 3:29.71. The Lumberjacks' B team of Lily Powell, Camryn Brown, Kelaher and Rosie Keith followed with a time of 3:33.27.
"It was a tough meet versus a really good Arizona team," head swimming coach Andy Johns said. "Teddy's finishes in the 1,000 and 500 were highlights, as well as Evalotta's swims in the 200 and 500. Overall, I'm pleased with everyone's effort and attitude in the pool. We have a lot of details to clean up and two solid weeks of preparation before UNM."
Northern Arizona returns to action Jan. 24, traveling 325 east to Albuquerque, New Mexico to face the Lobos before turning its focus to the MPSF Conference Championships in February.
Stay up to date with the Northern Arizona swimming and diving team by following the Lumberjacks on Instagram and X.
