The Texas and Texas A&M swimming rivalry renews in the pool this week.
Here is a breakdown of the matchups:
No. 1 Men’s Swimming and Diving preview: No. 7 Texas A&M
The Longhorns host the rival Aggies in the first dual meet of the 2020-21 season.
No. 1 Texas (0-0) vs. No. 7 Texas A&M (0-0)
When: Friday, Oct. 30, 4:30 p.m. CT (Diving starts at 3:15 p.m. CT) – Closed to public
Where: Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center (Austin, Texas)
Live Stream: none
Live Results: http://sidearmstats.com/texas/swim/index.htm
Meet Notes
Team Rankings: Texas is No. 1 in the CSCAA Division I preseason poll. The Longhorns received a total of 374 points in the poll, ahead of California (359) and Florida. Texas A&M is No. 7 in the preseason poll. The rankings track dual meet strength specifically and are not a NCAA Championship finish prediction.
Last Meeting: The Longhorns claimed 12 individual event wins en route to an 181-111 victory at Texas A&M last year (Nov. 1, 2019).
Last Time Out: Texas hosted the First Chance Invitational (Oct. 16-17), a non-scored meet featuring competitors from SMU, Texas and Texas A&M. The Longhorns registered three NCAA “A” cut efforts and 24 NCAA “B” cut performances over the two-day meet.
Kibler Off to Fast Start: Junior Drew Kibler posted a pair of NCAA “A” cut times at the First Chance Invitational. Kibler claimed the win in the 500-yard freestyle (4:08.26) on the meet’s opening day, narrowly missing the pool and school record (4:08.19) set by Townley Haas. He returned to win the 200-yard freestyle (1:31.10) on the following day.
Hello, Carson Foster: Freshman Carson Foster wasted no time in making a splash during his collegiate debut at the First Chance Invitational. On the meet’s opening day, Foster set a U.S. national age-group record in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 3:35.27, eclipsing the previous American record for the 17-18 age group held by Andrew Seliskar (3:37.52) by more than two seconds. The time also set a UT school record in the event, besting the previous mark of 3:36.37 by Will Licon.
Storied Program: Texas has claimed 14 NCAA Championships, finished runner-up 12 times and has a total of 33 top-3 finishes at the NCAA Championship meet. The Longhorns have won all 24 Big 12 Conference titles and have claimed 41 consecutive conference crowns.
Head Coach Eddie Reese: Eddie Reese is in his 43rd season at the helm of the Texas program. A three-time U.S. Men’s Olympic Team head coach (1992, 2004, 2008), Reese is the winningest coach in the sport’s history with 14 NCAA titles. He has coached 29 Olympians who have amassed 39 gold, 16 silver and eight bronze medals. Reese is the only collegiate swimming coach to win an NCAA team title in four separate decades.
From Texas A&M
This is the second match-up this season with the Longhorns, after a non-scored meet earlier this month. Junior Shaine Casas broke two school records and notched an A-cut time in all four events he competed in at the First Chance Invite. Casas added a pair of top finishes on the final day, demolishing his own school record in the 200 Back and also earning a first-place finish in the 200 IM.
Sophomore Andres Puente earned his first win of the season in the 200 Breast, while senior Mark Theall added a second-place finish in the 100 Free.
Diving will return to action for the first time this season. The Aggies return SEC Men’s Diver of the Year, Kurtis Mathews for his final season in Aggieland. The Sydney, Australia, native became the first Aggie to sweep the springboard events at the SEC Championships a season ago.
No. 8 Women’s Swimming and Diving preview: No. 17 Texas A&M
The Longhorns host the rival Aggies in the first dual meet of the 2020-21 season.
No. 8 Texas (0-0) vs. No. 17 Texas A&M (0-0)
When: Friday, Oct. 30, 4:30 p.m. CT (Diving starts at 3:15 p.m. CT) – Closed to public
Where: Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center (Austin, Texas)
Live Stream: none
Live Results: http://sidearmstats.com/texas/swim/index.htm
Meet Notes
Team Rankings: Texas is No. 8 in the CSCAA Division I preseason poll. Texas A&M is No. 17 in the preseason poll. The rankings track dual meet strength specifically and are not a NCAA Championship finish prediction.
Last Meeting: The Longhorns claimed nine individual event wins en route to an 165-135 victory at Texas A&M last year (Nov. 1, 2019).
Last Time Out: Texas hosted the Dust Off Your Boots Invitational (Oct. 16-17), a non-scored intrasquad meet. The Longhorns registered 10 NCAA “B” cut performances over the two-day meet.
Impressive Freshmen: A trio of freshmen had impressive collegiate debuts at the Dust Off Your Boots Invitational. Anna Elendt claimed the win and an NCAA “B” cut effort in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.30) on the opening day, before returning to capture the 200-yard breaststroke (2:14.30) on the final day. Emma Sticklen earned the victory and an NCAA “B” cut performance in the 200-yard butterfly (1:58.35) on the first day of the meet. Olivia Bray added wins and NCAA “B” cut times in the 200-yard backstroke (1:56.76) and the 100-yard butterfly (52.98).
Storied Program: Texas has claimed a total of nine national titles in its proud history. The Longhorns won AIAW national championships in 1981 and 1982. UT added NCAA team titles in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1991. The Longhorns also have captured 32 conference championships (14 Southwest Conference, 18 Big 12 Conference).
Head Coach Carol Capitani: Carol Capitani is in her ninth season at the helm of the Texas program. She has led the Longhorns to eight-straight Big 12 Conference crowns (2013-20) and top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championship meet in six of her previous seven opportunities. The 2020 NCAA Championship meet was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Texas A&M
The Maroon & White finished their home opener strong against Rice with a 150-107 victory. The Aggies placed first in 12 of the 14 swimming events Friday evening. Freshman Chloe Stepanek and senior Jing Wen Quah each earned three-individual wins in their dominant 2020 debuts. The two swimmers each picked up Southeastern Conference weekly honors for the first time in their careers.
Senior Kara Eisenmann added multiple top finishes for the Aggies as she notched first-place finishes in the 100 and 200 back. Freshmen Charlotte Longbottom and Emme Nelson each added an individual win.
Diving will return to action for the first time this season. The Aggies return senior diving captain Charlye Campbell, who qualified for NCAAs in both springboard events last year for the first time in her career. Sophomore Alyssa Clairmont is back on the boards after advancing to the finals in the platform dive during the SEC Championships in her postseason debut.
The in-state rivals went head-to-head last season in an exciting meet at the Rec Center Natatorium. The Aggies notched a 1-2-3 finish in the 100 Breast with Anna Belousova leading the way. Charlye Campbell earned first in the 3-Meter, knocking down the 2018 reigning NCAA Champion from Texas.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Texas swimming and Texas A&M swimming. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
