MIDLAND, Texas (SMU) – SMU Diving All-American Luke Sitz concluded his successful performance at the 2025 USA Diving Winter Nationals on Tuesday, earning podium finishes in each of his three events.
At the 3-meter finals, Sitz put up a score of 437.50, marking a new SMU record and personal record as well as earning himself a bronze medal. The performance places him third in the nation.
The Texas native also found success on 1-meter. In the preliminary and final rounds, Sitz scored a total mark of 745.10, placing him second overall. The sophomore earned another silver medal, throwing down a 792.21 mark with diving partner Joshua Sollenberger on synchronized 3-meter.
Freshman Grant Cates also competed at the USA Diving Winter Nationals. On platform, Cates advanced to the finals, earning a total score of 625.90 and placing 12th overall. The diver competed in the finals of synchronized platform and secured fifth overall with a 636.84 mark.
Other members of the SMU men's swimming and diving team have been competing at a high level throughout the Mustangs' month-long break. Junior Leonardo Pelaez swam in the U.S. Open Championships, placing ninth overall in the 1500m free with a time of 15:49.93. In the 400m free, the junior earned 21st overall after touching the wall in 3:58.52. Pelaez also competed in the 800m free and 200m free, placing 16th overall with a time of 8:22.22 and 29th overall after finishing in 1:51.62, respectively.
Swimming at the European Aquatics Short Course Championships, Kristaps Mikelsons represented his home country of Latvia. In the 100m breast, Mikelsons recorded a time of 58.91, breaking an 11-year-old Latvian record. In the 200m breast, Mikelsons set another national record for Latvia, throwing down a time of 2:07.91. Breaking his third Latvian record, the junior finished the 200m IM in 1:56.73. In the 400m IM, Mikelsons posted a time of 4:16.37.
Freshman Aubrey Jaya set an Indonesian record at the Southeast Asian Games, recording a 7:27.17 in the 800m free relay. In the 200m free, Jaya placed sixth in the finals after putting up a time of 1:50.97. The freshman also placed sixth in the 400m free, touching the wall in 3:57.33.
UP NEXT
The Mustangs host their first meet of 2026 on Friday, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. CT and Saturday, Jan. 3 at 12 p.m. CT against Oklahoma Christian.
