Cowgirl Swim & Dive Gearing Up for the Mountain West Conference Championships

LARAMIE, Wyo. (2/ /25) – The University of Wyoming women’s swim and dive team are gearing up for what is anticipated to be a top tier performance at the 2025 Mountain West Swimming and Diving Championships. The 2025 MW Championships are set to run from Feb. 19-22 inside the CRWC Natatorium at the University of Houston.

Last year’s MW Championships were a heavy and emotional time for the Cowgirls, as they were coping with the tragic loss of three members of the Wyoming Swim and Dive program: Charlie Clark, Carson Muir and Luke Slabber. Despite the unimaginable grief the Cowgirls were undoubtedly feeling and processing, they still managed come together as a team for multiple podium finishes, school records and personal best times while finishing sixth overall.

This season the Cowgirls have demonstrated just how tough and resilient of a squad they truly are, with an overall dual record of 7-2 and MW record of 3-1. The Cowgirls swim and dive squad are also the only Wyoming team on campus to have beaten longtime school-rival CSU so far this season, a pride factor that many have seemingly overlooked. However overlooked and unnoticed they may have been this season; the Cowgirls are not to be underestimated going into this year’s MW Championships.

While San Diego State and Washington State are shaping up to be the favorites going into conference, head coach Dave Denniston is still very confident in his team and the goals they have. 

“I think we’re going to stack up really well in Mountain West,” Denniston said. “I think when you really look at just the depth across the conference, it’s going to be a very close meet. What’s going to be exciting is there’s going to be a lot of close races that determine who is going to come out on top. With the season we’ve had and the grittiness of our women, I anticipate us being on the top end of several of those close races. My expectation is to go in, have fun, see the best we can do as always but at the same time I know our women always want to be in that top two, top three range and I think that’s the overall team goal this year.”

Returning and leading the charge for the Cowgirls with a pair of All-Mountain West honors each from last year are Wyoming natives senior Brynlee Busskohl and sophomore Tara Joyce. Busskohl holds the school record in the 200-yard breaststroke, a time she set at last year’s MW Championships with a third-place finish. Busskohl also earned All-MW honors in the 100-yard breaststroke. Joyce dominated for Wyoming as a freshman, winning a MW championship and a setting a school record in the 200-yard freestyle. Joyce also was also the anchor for the MW championship-winning and school record setting 800-yard freestyle relay.

Also an All-MW honoree from last year, junior diver Alicia Gonzalez has been having a phenomenal season off the diving boards for the Cowgirls. She was recognized as MW Diver of the Week four times this season, bringing her career-total to eight. Gonzalez is poised to lead the Cowgirl divers once again at this year’s MW Championships.

This season the Cowgirls have benefited from the leadership of an experienced senior class, the talent and work ethic showcased by the sophomores and juniors, as well as shining breakthrough moments from the freshman. This team has continued to gel together and succeed all season-long and are ready to make their mark at the 2025 Mountain West Championships.

The MW Championships will be streamed on the Mountain West Network, linked here.