Jake Taylor and Nathan Gonzales heading to NCAA's

PROVO, Utah ­­– Junior captain Jake Taylor and true freshman diver Nathan Gonzales each qualified for the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Iowa City, Iowa, March 26-28.

“Our goal is for Jake to finish in the top eight,” BYU swim coach John Brooks said. “He wants to earn All-America honors and we both feel confident that he can perform to that level.”

Taylor will compete in the men’s 200-yard individual medley and the 100- and 200-yard backstroke at the championships. Taylor qualified for the men’s 100-yard backstroke with a seedtime of 45.53, the sixth-fastest time in the country. Taylor’s time of 1:40.51 in the 200-yard backstroke is the 10th-fastest time in the country this year. He made the “B-cut” in the 200 IM with a qualifying time of 1:45.76.

Taylor was named the Men’s Swimmer of the Meet at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Swimming and Diving Championships where he led BYU to its second-straight conference title.

Taylor earned First-Team All-MPSF honors in the men’s 50-yard freestyle, 100 back, 200 back and the 400-yard medley relay. He also earned Second-Team honors in the 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay.

Gonzales qualified for the NCAA Championships at the Zone E Diving Championships when he finished ninth in the 1-meter with a score of 655.35.

“We’re really proud of Nathan and what he’s done this year as a freshman,” BYU head diving coach Keith Russell said. “I’m sure his eyes will be really wide next week at Iowa but it will be such a great experience for him and I expect him to perform well.”

Gonzales earned All-MPSF First-Team with his performances in the 1-meter and platform while earning Second-Team honors in the 3-meter at the MPSF Championships.

ESPN3.com will stream finals sessions on Friday and Saturday. Results following the Championships will be available on the men's swimming and diving schedule page.