Texas Takes Two-Day Tri-Meet

AUSTIN, Texas, January 20. PACED by victories from seniors Matt McGinnis and Tommy Sacco and freshman Ricky Berens, No. 1 Texas emerged victorious from its two-day tri-meet against No. 5 Arizona and SMU at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. The top-ranked Longhorns (7-0) posted a 188-165 victory over the fifth-ranked Wildcats and defeated SMU by a 153-96 margin. Arizona defeated SMU, 145-104. Notably, Texas turned the tables on Arizona after the Wildcats won the annual Texas Invitational last month in Austin.

Arizona opened the second day of competition by edging Texas in the 200-yard medley relay, as the Wildcats held on at 1:29.09. UT senior Garrett Weber-Gale (Fox Point, Wis.) made up ground on the final leg, but the Longhorns fell just shy in the end at 1:29.16. Nonetheless, UT enjoyed a solid overall performance on its way to the team victory.

McGinnis (Raleigh, N.C.) exerted his season-long dominance in the 200 freestyle, claiming the event in 1:35.97 for a NCAA provisional-qualifying mark. Freshman Dave Walters (Yorktown, Va.) also recorded a NCAA "B" cut mark with his third-place swim of 1:37.63.

Sacco (Dallas, Texas) topped Arizona's Albert Subirats in the 100 backstroke by pulling away in the final 50 yards. Sacco touched the wall in 47.96 to add another NCAA provisional-qualifying mark. Junior Daniel Rohleder (Austin, Texas) took third in 49.24.

Berens (Charlotte, N.C.) continued to flex his muscle in the butterfly events, taking the 200 butterfly in 1:49.52. Sophomore Michael Klueh (Evansville, Ind.) placed third while junior Chris Seitz (Taylor Mill, Ky.) took fourth. Arizona's Subirats captured the 50 freestyle, but the Longhorns' depth virtually canceled out Subirats' win, as UT's McGinnis, Weber-Gale and senior Tyler O'Halloran (Boardman, Ohio) placed second through fourth, respectively.

Arizona captured the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, although Texas had already clinched the team victory over the Wildcats. Texas' McGinnis, Berens, Walters and Weber-Gale took second in 2:56.10, good for a NCAA provisional mark. Junior Brian Smith (Carrollton, Texas) won the exhibition mixed platform-diving event with a score of 328.65.

Texas will close out the regular season on Saturday, Jan. 27 against Texas A&M in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown. The meet is slated for a 2 p.m. Central start at the Texas Swimming Center.

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