Kailia Utley Season 2022-23
Career Honors
• 2022-23 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
• 2021-22 second-team CSCAA Scholar All-American
• 2021-22 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
Career-Best Times
500 Free: 4:56.93 at Gamecock Invitational, 11.16.22
1,000 Free: 10:40.52 at North Florida/Georgia Southern, 10.15.22
100 Back: 56.55 at Gamecock Invitational, 11.17.22
200 Back: 2:02.61 at Miami Invitational, 11.20.21
100 Fly: 53.66 at SEC Championships, 2.16.23
200 Fly: 1:57.55 at Tennessee Last Chance Meet, 2.25.23
Commodore Record Watch
• Is the school overall and freshman record holder in the 200 fly
• Ranks second on the Commodores’ all-time performance list in the 100 fly after setting a school freshman record in the event
• Stands ninth in school history in the 500 free
As a Sophomore (2022-23)
• Achieved the NCAA B/NIC A Standard in both the 100 and 200 fly, ands also met the NIC B Standard in the 500 free and 100 and 200 back
• Ranked among the top 25 in the SEC in the 200 fly and the top 40 in the 100 fly
• Posted the team’s best times in the 100 and 200 fly, ranking second in the 500 and 1,000 free, third in the 200 back and fifth in the 100 back also
• Reached the B Final in the 100 fly (54.61), recorded a top-10 finish in qualifying in the 200 fly (2:00.84) and swam in the 100 back (56.87) at the CSCAA National Invitational (March 9-11)
• Finished third in the Bonus Final of the 200 fly after qualifying with a then school-record 1:57.64 mark at the SEC Championships (Feb. 14-18), just missed finals after recording a career-best time in the 100 fly while touching the wall in a season-low 2:03.17 in the 200 back
• Swam the fastest 500 free of her career to qualify for the A Final at the Gamecock Invitational (Nov. 16-18)
• Also advanced to the A Final in the 100 fly (54.89) while winning the B Final in the 100 back — with a career-best time — and 200 fly (2:03.61) at the competition
• Qualified for the B Final in the 200 back (2:03.26) that weekend as well
• Won the 100 (56.55) and 200 (2:04.44) fly in meet against Queens and Richmond (Nov. 4-5), adding a fifth-place finish in the 500 free (5:07.22)
• The Dores’ top finisher in both the 100 (56.64) and 200 (2:04.39) fly — placing third and fourth, respectively — in meet against LSU and Tulane (Sept. 23)
• Claimed the 200 fly (2:01.95), and was also second in the 100 fly (56.38) and third in the 200 back (2:08.06) at Iowa (Jan. 21)
• Touched the wall fourth in the 200 fly (2:05.39) in dual meet against Auburn (Oct. 7), also recording 5:07.70 mark in the 500 free
• Finished third in both the 1,000 free (10:40.52) and 200 back (2:09.68) in Vandy’s victory over North Florida and Georgia Southern (Oct. 15)
As a Freshman (2021-22)
• Met NCAA B and NIC A Standards in the 100 and 200 fly, as well as the NIC B Standard in the 200 back
• Was the lone Commodore to compete at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship (March 10-12), taking part in the 50, 100 and 200 fly
• Had the team’s top times in 100 and 200 fly, and 200 back, and also ranked fifth in the 100 back
• Qualified for the C Final in the 200 fly (1:58.53) at the SEC Championships (Feb. 15-19) after setting school overall and freshman records in the event
• Won the A Final in the 100 (53.73) and 200 (1:59.19) fly as well as the B Final in the 100 back at the Miami Invitational (Nov. 18-20), also coming in sixth in the A Final of the 200 back
• Also won 200 fly against Florida Gulf Coast (Oct. 16) and Tulane (Nov. 6), earning a third-place finish in the 100 fly (56.66) at FCGU as well
• Finished second in the 100 (56.19) and 200 (2:03.12) fly, and was third in the 200 back (2:06.36) in victory over Illinois (Oct. 30)
• Paced the Commodores in the 200 fly (2:07.03) against Tennessee (Jan. 20), also placing in the top five in the 100 fly (57.45)
The Utley File
• Major is undeclared
• Prepped at Mater Dei under head coach Kelly Dullard
• Twice competed at the California state championships
• 2021 CIF state champion in 100 fly with a time of 53.67
• Holds Mater Dei record in 100 fly — broke it three times
• 2021 Mater Dei Swimmer of the Year
• 2018 and 2021 High Point Award winner
• Letterwinner in swimming and captained team for two years
• Salutatorian of high school class; graduated Summa Cum Laude
• Scholar-Athlete of the Year at Mater Dei
• Two-time Cornerstone Scholar Award winner
• ASB President
• Member of the National Honor Society, Renaissance Club
• Daughter of Kathy and Heath Utley
• Has two older brothers, Noah and Brayden; and a younger brother, Dane
• Born in Newport Beach, California
• Mom, Kathy, swam at Arizona; dad, Heath, competed in track and field at Arizona; brother, Noah, played football at West Point; brother, Brayden, plays football at Baylor
• Tap dance for 11 years
• Played Sebastian in school’s senior musical
• Was a foreign exchange student to New Zealand
• Junior lifeguard at Huntington Beach
Why Vanderbilt: “I wanted a team that would be motivated in the pool and classroom. The girls on the team got to meet were very welcoming and I felt like I fit right in.”