Texas Men and Women Handily Defeat Arizona in Tucson

TUCSON, Arizona, February 1. TEMPERATURES in the mid-50s and a brief rain shower might have kept the men’s and women’s teams from Arizona and Texas from swimming as fast as expected, but the Longhorns extended their lead from yesterday’s competition to win both meets.

The Texas women won 196-157 while the men won 194-153.

“There is nothing like being cold before you swim,” Texas men’s head coach Eddie Reese told his team after the meet. “When you dive in, you don’t feel anything. It’s about racing, which is what the NCAAs is about.”

Before the meet started, the Wildcats celebrated their seniors, but only three of them would win any races today. Ashley Evans won the 200 fly with a 2:00.25 after winning the 100 fly yesterday. Mitchell Friedemann won the 100 back with a 48.34 ahead of Texas’ Kip Darmody, who posted a 48.74. And Eric Solis won the 200 IM with a 1:51.45 with teammate Sam Rowan right behind with a 1:51.47.

The Texas men won five of the nine swimming events contested today. Jack Conger showed off his butterfly range today, skipping the 100 back in favor of the 200 fly and winning with a 1:46.59 ahead of teammate John Martens, who posted a 1:47.93. Another 1-2 finish for Texas came in the men’s 1000 free, as freshman Clark Smith won with a 9:11.94 ahead of Sam Lewis’ 9:22.44.

Clay Youngquist, an NCAA finalist in the 200 free, let Arizona’s Eric Solis take a big lead before he and Arizona’s Matt Barber battled in the final 50 yards. Youngquist finished in first with a 1:40.38 to Barber’s 1:40.60.

An easy-looking 53.64 from Kevin Cordes in the 100 breast marked the other win for the Arizona men in swimming. Rafael Quintero was able to win the platform diving event over Texas’ trip of Will Chandler, Michael Hixon and Cory Bowersox.

Texas also got a win from John Murray in the 50 free with a 20.51.

On the women’s side, Arizona could only manage three wins. Including Evans’ 200 fly, Bonnie Brandon won the 1000 free with a 9:59.45 over teammate Lauren Neidigh’s 10:00.27, and the Wildcats took the 400 free relay with a 3:18.66.

Alex Hooper got the win in the 200 free over reigning 50 and 100 free NCAA champion Margo Geer. Hooper posted a 1:49.69, with Texas teammate Sam Tucker second with a 1:49.96 and Geer third with a 1:50.01.

Lily Moldenhauer was the only sub-55 second swimmer in the 100 back with a 54.10, while Gretchen Jacques took the 100 breast by nearly two seconds with a 1:01.67. Ellen Lobb kept Geer from getting a win on Senior Day with a 50 free winning time of 22.99 over Geer’s 23.10.

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