It was a showdown of star-studded teams in Austin, Texas as Georgia (No. 2 women, No. 3 men) took on Texas (No. 1 men, No. 6 women) on Saturday.
Georgia emerged as victorious on the women’s side, improving their record to 7-0 with a 155-145 win. The Longhorns knocked off the Bulldogs in the men’s meet by a score of 170-125. The Georgia men are now 6-1 on the year.
The men’s and women’s 200-yard medley relay were both close races. In the women’s event, Texas’ team of backstroker Tasija Karosas, breaststroker Olivia Anderson, butterflier Mimi Schneider and freestyler Rebecca Millard won in 1:39.62, less than half a second ahead of Georgia’s team.
The Bulldogs took the win in the men’s relay, posting a time of 1:27.58. The team consisted of backstroker Taylor Dale, breaststroker Ty Stewart, butterflier Pace Clark and freestyler Michael Trice.
Georgia’s Hali Flickinger was the meet’s highest scoring woman, racking up 27 individual points. Flickinger finished first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.14), 200-yard butterfly (1:55.93) and 200-yard backstroke (1:53.23). The senior also helped the Bulldogs to a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Texas’ Will Licon, Jack Conger, Townley Haas and Cory Bowersox led all male scorers with 18 points each. Licon won the 100 (54.56) and 200-yard breaststroke (1:56.40), while Conger was victorious in the 100 (47.14) and 200-yard butterfly (1:43.65). Haas took first in the 200 (1:35.77) and 500-yard freestyle (4:24.85) and Bowersox won the one and three meter diving events.
Diver Meghan Houston set the pace for the Texas women. The senior scored 18 points and finished first in the one and three meter diving events.
Jay Litherland was the highest scoring Georgia male, finishing with 15 points. The sophomore won the 400-yard individual medley (3:49.07) and finished third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:36.46) and 200-yard backstroke (1:46.98).
Georgia won the women’s 400-yard freestyle relay. The team of Olivia Smoliga, Meaghan Raab, Brittany MacLean and Flickinger posted a time of 3:17.54. The Bulldogs also won the men’s race, touching in 2:56.29. The team consisted of Matias Koski, Dale, Clark and Trice.
Georgia returns to action on Jan. 23 against Tennessee.