Chris Guiliano Impresses in First Longhorn Appearance as Texas Dominates SMU
The Texas Longhorns opened 2025 in strong fashion against in-state rival SMU, with the women winning 218-76 and the men jumping out to a 237-63 margin. The Texas men’s team, which already features Olympic champion Hubert Kos and short course world-record holder Luke Hobson, saw the debut of Olympian Chris Guiliano, who impressed in the freestyle events.
The Longhorn men won the 200 medley relay with Will Modglin, Nate Germonprez, Kos and Guiliano clocking 1:22.90. Guiliano anchored in 18.53, and he followed that up by dominating the 50 freestyle in 19.04. Guiliano later scored the win in the 100 free in 41.89, and he posted a 41.18 relay split to conclude the meet.
Kos blasted a time of 44.94 in the 100 backstroke, and he also crushed the field in the 200 IM, recording a mark of 1:42.81. David Johnston dominated the 1000 free (8:44.94), followed by Coby Carrozza winning the 200 free (1:33.67).
Germonprez topped the 100 breast (52.09), and Cooper Lucas touched out Rex Maurer to win the 200 fly by four hundredths, 1:43.96 to 1:44.00. Modglin finished first in the 200 back (1:42.26), and Will Scholtz crushed the field in the 200 breast by three-and-a-half seconds, clocking 1:54.33.
Maurer, who broke the American record in the 500 free in November, won that event in 4:12.12, and Garrett Gould took first in the 100 fly (47.16). In diving, Luke Forester won 1-meter (397.50) while SMU’s only win came from Luke Sitz on the 3-meter board (389.55). Gould, Kos, Hobson and Camden Taylor won the 400 free relay in 2:51.07, with Taylor holding off a charging Guiliano down the stretch.
The Texas women were similarly dominant against the Mustangs. Emma Sticklen, Piper Enge, Abby Arens and Grace Cooper won the 200 medley relay in 1:35.27. Three of these swimmers would go on to earn individual wins, beginning with Enge in the 100 breast (59.44).
Sticklen, who already owns the country’s best time in the 200 fly by three-and-a-half seconds, clocked 1:50.52 for the win in her signature event, with Olivia Bray posting a strong mark of 1:53.85 for second place. Arens won the 100 free (48.66) and 200 IM (1:56.80) while Bray captured the 200 back (1:53.63)
Freshman Kate Hurst dominated the 1000 free (9:36.22), and Campbell Chase impressed over 200 yards in 1:44.97. Emma Kern was the top swimmer in the 100 back (52.71). Ava Longi won the 50 free (22.25), and the 200 breast went to Lindsey Hosch (2:13.23).
Jillian Cox, fresh off bronze at the Short Course World Championships in the 1500-meter free, posted a mark of 4:36.45 in the 500 free, and Campbell Stoll won the 100 fly (52.00). Bray, Chase, Angie Coe and Lillie Nesty won the 400 free relay in 3:14.95. In diving, Hailey Hernandez won the 3-meter event for Texas (330.68) while SMU’s Jaclynn Fowler placed first on 1-meter (294.23).