By, Jason Tillotson.
Despite only two meets taking place in the Big 12 conference this weekend, we still saw impressive performances, narrow wins and shocking defeats.
Here’s a closer look at this week’s action:
Texas vs. Texas A&M
Men: Texas A&M 158, Texas 142
Women: Texas 151.5, Texas A&M 148.5*
The University of Texas men’s swimming and diving teams suffered their first loss against Texas A&M since 1962.
The Longhorns and the Aggies went head to head this weekend in College Station with a winning-streak at stake. Prior to this year, the Longhorns had defeated the Aggies in every dual they had together in fifty-five years.
Despite the loss, the Longhorns were able to secure many victories and produce several promising performances. The trio of Jonathan Roberts, John Thomas and Chris Yeager went 1-2-3 in the 1000 freestyle, which recovered the Longhorns from the narrow defeat in the 200-medley relay.
Another Longhorn sweep came in the very next event, the 200 freestyle, where Townley Haas, Jeff Newkirk and Jacob Huerta went 1-2-3 yet again, each with a sub-1:40 performance. The Texas men would not win another event until the 50 freestyle where Senior Brett Ringgold touched first in 19.92. Ringgold secured another win in his other signature event, the 100 freestyle, where he posted a 43.85.
Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold / Aringo Photos
Townley Haas had his second victory of the evening come in the 500 freestyle. Here Haas was able to fight off two Aggie standouts, Felipe Rizzo and Benjamin Walker, on his way to producing a 4:27.38.
In an odd turn of events, and probably due to Joseph Schooling’s notable absence from the meet, Longhorn backstroker John Shebat had to step into the sprint butterfly role in the 100-yard distance. Shebat won the race with a NCAA B-cut performance of 48.29.
After suffering expected losses in the 200 butterfly and the breaststroke events, Texas Freshman Jordan Windle won the men’s three-meter diving event with a score of 420.68. The Longhorns ended the meet with a valiant effort by winning the men’s 400 freestyle relay with the team of Ringgold, Haas, Huerta and Tate Jackson.
Next on the Longhorns schedule is a trip to North Carolina to take on The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and N.C. State.
*For a recap of the women’s meet, click here.
Kansas vs. Nebraska
Scores: Kansas 159, Nebraska 141
The Kansas University Jayhawks hosted the Nebraska Corn huskers this weekend and came out with a victory in the process. Kansas is on a win streak after posting victories against Missouri State and TCU while Nebraska is coming off a loss at Arkansas.
Kansas started the meet with a bang by winning the very first event, the 200 medley relay. The team of Manon Manning, Haley Downey, Hayley Bishop and Lauryn Parrish earned Kansas the victory in a time of 1:44.35. Kansas continued their success in the 1000 freestyle with Crissie Blomquist turning in a time of 10:13.93, for the win. Parrish impressed spectators by coming right off the 200 medley relay and winning the 200 freestyle in a swift time of 1:51.34.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
The Jayhawks produced a 1-2 finish in the 100 backstroke with Manon Manning and Madison Hutchinson each posting sub-:57 swims. Kansas continued their sweeping trend in the 50 freestyle with the trio of Hayley Shepard, Taylor Sieperda and Carly Straight. Straight went on to win the other sprint freestyle event, the 100-yard distance, in a time of 52.77, followed closely by teammate Sieperda in 52.87.
Parrish won her second event of the evening in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:01.92. Sprint specialist Hayley Bishop gave Kansas a win in the 100 butterfly in 56.16. The last victory of the evening came in the 400 freestyle relay where Kansas claimed victory with the team of Parrish, Bishop, Straight and Jenny Nusbaum.
The Jayhawks have a weekend off until they travel to Topeka for the Kansas Classic.
For complete results click here.
Peggy Machol-Bassett, Tara Daley
Whoop!??
Yay Coach Jason
so if Texas A&M won the meet, why are none of the names of their swimmers in this article?
Flutterby,
The Texas A&M swimmers were not mentioned in this recap of the Big 12 action because Texas A&M competes in the SEC.
Here is a link to the SEC recap, where the Texas A&M swimmers were recognized.
https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/sec-friday-recap-kentucky-starts-off-strong-at-saluki-invite-arkansas-downs-nebraska/