5 College Swimming Meets to Watch During Second Half of Season
After three electrifying months, we’ve reached the halfway point in the 2024-25 college swimming season. It’s been a thrill, with a plethora of incredible meets, raucous atmospheres, and even world records on display. But the season is just getting started; Two months of action still await before conference championships, with much excitement to come. Ahead of the second half, we’re counting down five exciting matchups of the second half of the college swim season: meets to look out for as the season rolls on.
#15 Alabama at #14/19 Auburn – January 19
Alabama-Auburn has always been one of college sports’ classic rivalries, including the tradition of the schools’ “Iron Bowl.” The two schools’ proximity and prestige have created sports memories for decades, including in the pool. Both teams have gone back and forth in intense ranked battles over the years, with Auburn’s men and women sweeping the Crimson Tide this past year. But a strong 3-0 start suggests the Tide could seriously challenge the Tigers this year, with wins over ranked competitors LSU and Florida State. In a year of great rivalry meets like Army-Navy and Georgetown-Howard, this could be another classic.
Races to Watch:
200 Freestyle Relay
Both women’s teams rank top 10 in the nation for the 200 free relay, showcasing their sprint depth. This could be a meet-deciding race on the women’s side.
Men’s 500 Freestyle
Alabama’s Charlie Hawke and Auburn’s Mason Mathias have been strong in this event, ranking in the top-11 in the country. In what should be a preview of SEC Championships matchup, the two should battle to get their team out to a hot start early in the meet.
#16/6 Tennessee at #7/11 Georgia – January 25
Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Yet another SEC rivalry comes next on our list. Georgia has been red-hot to start the season, taking down fourth ranked Florida on the women’s side and 12th ranked UNC on the men’s side. The Dawgs will face off against a Tennessee team which boasts some of the SEC’s biggest stars, with Jordan Crooks and Josephine Fuller leading the way. Will the Dawgs’ depth be too much for the Volunteers’ star power?
Races to Watch:
Men’s 200 Butterfly
This event is a serious strength for both teams. Four of the top 10 times in the country belong solely to the Dawgs and Volunteers. Georgia’s Luca Urlando and Jake Magahey will potentially clash with Tennessee’s Martin Espernberger and Bjorn Kammann, four of the top contenders for an SEC title in February.
Women’s 500 Freestyle
On the women’s side, both teams certainly have varying strengths. But the 500 free is an event that should come down to the wire. Georgia’s Rachel Stege and Tennessee’s Ella Jansen both rank top 10 in the event and hold NCAA ‘A’ Cuts. It should one of the fastest races of the meet.
#2/6 Indiana at #10/8 Louisville – January 31
2024 was a banner year for Indiana. The team captured its first women’s Big Ten title since 2019, as well as a third straight men’s title. The Big Ten is surging, with six ranked teams set to battle for the title in March. Going to Louisville will present Indiana with a big conference test. Can the defending conference champs successfully navigate the trip?
Races to Watch:
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Indiana has dominated the 100 breast this year, with three swimmers in the national top 10 in the event. They could face a challenge in Louisville’s Denis Petrashov, who also ranks top 10 in the event and will be hungry for a win.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Sticking with the breaststroke events, the 200 should be a battle. Louisville’s Mia Cheatwood and Indiana’s Breanna Crawford sit tied at fourth in the event in Division I. It should be an exciting race, one that we could see again at the Big Ten Championships.
#8/3 Stanford at #2/10 California – January 31
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
The second half of the 2024-25 season is full of rivalries, with this one being perhaps the best in college swimming. With 16 national championships between the two, both programs have storied histories. But their battles have been just as legendary, with Stanford upsetting the Bears in a tight meet a season ago. With both teams moving to the ACC, they’ll have an opportunity to capture their first title in the new conference. An old school clash has new meaning in the new year.
Races to Watch:
Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay
Two of the fastest 400 free relays in the country will square off in this one, surely bringing excitement. Both teams return their entire relays from NCAAs, in what was a closely contested event on the biggest stage. One of the meet’s most exciting races on paper could decide the meet, with relay points crucial to any win.
Women’s 50 Freestyle
Any event could’ve gone here, with both women’s squads brimming with depth and versatile swimmers. I chose the 50 free in the chance that both Torri Huske and Mary-Ambre Moluh end up swimming the event. Despite being two of the most well-rounded swimmers in college swimming, the two rank third and sixth, respectively, in the event. It could be one of the best races of the year, an exhilarating dash.
#3/14 Arizona State, #17/1 Virginia, #6/9 N.C State at #1/ 2 Texas- January 25th
The best swim meet of the second half of the season is a true clash of titans. The defending men’s champ, ASU, will take on former coach Bob Bowman’s Texas Longhorns, accompanied by the defending women’s champ, Virginia, clashing with perennial powerhouse N.C State. It should be the biggest test of the season for all four teams, providing previews of what we might see in March. Can Bowman defeat his old team? Can anyone top Virginia on the women’s side? Is N.C State capable of competing with the best of the best? We’ll learn a lot from this one.
Races to Watch: All of them. The depth of all four of these teams should make every race an NCAA preview. Watching the best compete against each other should be an absolute blast.