ASU Swimming: Sun Devils open season with two meets

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Oregon Ducks T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon won 80-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Oregon Ducks T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon won 80-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

ASU swimming begin their season with two home openers against Utah on Friday at 4 p.m. PST and Florida State University on Saturday at 11 a.m PST.

ASU swimming will hit the water on Friday as they open their season against Utah in Tempe.

This preseason, the Sun Devils competed in their annual Maroon and Gold meets as well as USA Swimming College Challenge.

Many of the Sun Devil athletes achieved NCAA-B cuts during the Maroon and Gold face off.

Even though a B cut does not guarantee you a bid in the NCAA Championships, the fastest B cuts make the invite list.

On the ASU men’s team, Patrick Park, Cameron Craig, Zach Poti, and Christian Lorenz all achieved NCAA B-cuts in the 100 fly, back, breast, and free.

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Both Craig and Lorenz participated on the Pac-12 college team in the USA Swimming College Challenge.

Craig showed endurance during the final event of the USA Swimming College Challenge by out touching team USA.

Chasing down team USA, Craig added 11 points to the Pac-12 team and achieved a 41.92 anchor split in the 400 freestyle relay.

Seeing these achievements in the preseason sets the Sun Devils up for success in their home opener against Utah.

The CSCAA Preseason Top 25 ranked the ASU men’s swim team number eight.

The men’s team ranking surpasses Utah, Southern California, and Florida State.

The women’s team is not ranked on the CSCAA Preseason Top 25; however, they have shown growth over the course of the preseason.

Sophomores Silja Kansakoski and Kendall Dawson also represented the Pac-12 team at the USA Swimming College Challenge.

Dawson anchored the “C” team for the women’s 400 freestyle relay, and Kansakoski competed in the 100 breaststroke finishing with a time of 1:00.43.

The Sun Devils begin their season with back-to-back home meets hosting Utah Friday at 4 p.m. PST on the ASU Live Stream and Florida State Saturday at 11 a.m PST.