New diving blocks adorn the pool deck at Uytengsu Aquatics Center alongside a new team preparing for their final Pac-12 showdowns this season. USC swim opens their final Pac-12 season against Arizona and Arizona State this weekend, and their hopes are high to come out on top. 

“We’re definitely going to be aiming to win Pac-12s because it’s going to be the last Pac-12s, so we definitely want to be forever Pac-12 champions,” said sophomore Justina Kozan in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “I think everyone’s been having a very good mindset at practice [and] working hard, so I think we’ll achieve it.” 

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The Trojans are already seeing this success. USC opened their season this month with the SMU Classic Invitational and USC Invitational meets, where the Trojans placed first in both contests. 

“Based on our results at SMU and USC Invite we’ve been doing really good, posting some top times in the country, and I think we’re on a good track right now,” Kozan said. “We’ve just got to keep it rolling until Pac-12s.” 

The key to this success is chemistry — which goes far beyond just the levels of chlorine in the pool. Team dynamics are what will win this season.

“The thing that I love about this team is I feel as if we are really process-focused and performance-focused,” said Head Coach Lea Maurer. “I think that if we can sustain that focus when we’re in performance and high-pressure situations, then we will be able to kind of see our dreams come to fruition.” 

The chemistry in the pool looks different this season, as four new swimmers joined the Trojans at the beginning of this year. A huge part of these dynamics are defined by the new members of the team, and according to Maurer, there has been nothing but positivity in this realm. 

“That’s one of our biggest success stories,” Maurer said. “I think the team culture has been incredible about welcoming newcomers.” 

Freshman Lilla Minna Abraham agreed and emphasized how supportive the team has been in her transition from her hometown of Budapest, Hungary to Los Angeles. 

“I love the practices, [they’re] amazing,” Minna Abraham said. “Even when we’re tired or it’s the end of the set and we’re all exhausted, I hear people [saying] ‘Let’s go Minna, you’ve got this, last set!’ And that’s just really motivating.” 

Alongside new swimmers is a relatively new coaching staff. As Maurer enters her second season as head coach, she looks forward to building more bonds and diving deeper with the swimmers she leads. 

“I think I’ve just kind of been a little more true to myself and following the recipe that I think is necessary for success,” Maurer said. “I love being part of the USC community and I want our student-athletes also to know that they’re a part of something bigger.” 

This younger coaching staff is valued by the swimmers they lead and could be a defining mark of their success in the pool. 

“We have such a high energy at practice, especially due to the coaches, because all of them are on the younger side, so they just really bring up the energy on the pool deck,” Kozan said. 

This weekend will be a test for the Trojans, as Arizona and Arizona State are consistently neck and neck with USC in the Pac-12 and NCAA Tournament. Last season, USC dominated Arizona 165-123 and Arizona State 180-103. 

“I think this will be a good temperature check for us in terms of so far we’ve been racing really well, but I don’t think our feet have been held to the fire,” Maurer said. “This will be interesting to see if we can stay process-focused and stay in the moment in a really positive and problem-solving kind of mindset as we face some of the best swimmers in the country.” 

The Trojans will travel to Arizona and Arizona State Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 for a dual meet this weekend. 

Stefano Fendrich contributed to this report