Texas Triumphs Over SMU in Splashy Spring Showdown – The Daily Texan

Following an undeniably triumphant fall season in the pool, the No. 1 and No. 2 Texas men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams emerged from their winter training session on Friday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center to overpower the SMU men’s and women’s squads 237-63 and 218-76, respectively.

This win signifies the first of the spring season, marked by numerous remarkable performances in both individual events and relays.

One particularly remarkable performance came from senior All-American and 2024 Olympic medalist Chris Guiliano, who achieved first place in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 19.04 seconds, the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 41.89 seconds, and anchored Texas’ victorious 200 medley relay team.

Through relays and individual feats such as Guiliano’s, the Texas men’s team secured an impressive 15 first-place victories at the event.

The squad is made up of both newcomers and experienced members, Olympians and Olympic aspirants, all united under the direction of new head coach Bob Bowman with the collective aim of achieving a national title.

“I believe that by the end of this season, (the aim) is to strive for an NCAA championship,” sophomore captain Will Modglin expressed in December. “I think that’s the primary objective, both individual and team.”

If the outcomes from the event are any testament, the women’s team is also aiming for a title victory.

The Longhorns commenced the meet with a triumph in the 200-yard medley relay featuring a team of graduate student Emma Sticklen, freshman Piper Enge, graduate student Abby Arens, and graduate student Grace Cooper, finishing in 1:35.27. Another Texas relay squad composed of sophomore Emma Kern, sophomore Campbell Stoll, graduate student Olivia Bray, and graduate student Ava Longi secured second place in the event.

This opening race foreshadowed how the remainder of the competition would progress as the Longhorns dominated all freestyle events against the Mustangs.

Women’s swimming and diving achieved 15 victories, with Texas swimmers also claiming second place in 12 of those races. The Lady Longhorns’ depth was showcased in this competition, beneficial for the lengthy and challenging season ahead.

The next competition is rapidly approaching, scheduled for Jan. 24 at home. The schools vying are Texas, Arizona State, North Carolina State and Virginia.

Virginia’s women’s program currently holds the highest ranking above Texas in the NCAA standings, while Arizona State and N.C. State boast top-10-ranked men’s squads.

The matchup promises to be competitive, but the Longhorns are demonstrating potential and proving their depth and skill to deliver impressive results throughout the spring season.