Josh Liendo, Michaela Mattes Impress as Florida Dominates Texas A&M

Josh Liendo, Michaela Mattes Impress as Florida Dominates Texas A&M
The University of Florida swim and dive teams traveled to College Station, Texas, to take on the SEC rival Texas A&M Aggies, and both Gator teams came out comfortably ahead, with Josh Liendo and Michaela Mattes each winning a pair of individual events. The Florida men dominated by a 193-107 margin while the women won 179-120.
The Florida men opened their strong performance with a time of 1:25.53 in the 200 medley relay, with Jonny Marshall, Julian Smith, Liendo and Alex Painter combining for a time of 1:25.53. Liendo topped the 50 free in 19.29, and he returned to post a time of 45.95 in the 100 butterfly.
Smith, fresh off becoming the fourth man ever under 50 seconds in the 100-yard breaststroke at midseason, placed first in the event against the Aggies in 53.04. He later won the 200 IM in 1:46.00, and Marshall took first in the 100 backstroke (47.10).
Jake Mitchell, a Tokyo Olympic finalist in the 400-meter free, pulled away to win the 1000 free in 9:05.92. Mason Laur won the 200 butterfly (1:45.67), and freshman Aiden Norman won the 200 back (1:44.14). Aleksas Savickas finished almost four seconds ahead of the field in the 200 breast (1:57.49), followed by Eric Brown winning the 500 free (4:28.03).
Peyton Donald won 1-meter diving (373.35), and the team of Painter, Liendo, Devin Dilger and Oskar Lindholm placed first in the 400 free relay (2:53.98).
Baylor Nelson claimed the first win for Texas A&M as he won the 200 free by a second in 1:36.51. Connor Foote took first in the 100 free (44.20), and in diving, Allen Bottego finished first on the 3-meter board (411.30).
The Gator women’s team of Catie Choate, Anita Bottazzo, Olivia Peoples and Addison Reese dominated the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:39.13. Individually, Bottazzo clocked 1:00.75 to take first in the 100 breast , and Molly Mayne won the 200-yard event (2:13.51). Peoples got the win in the 100 fly (52.87).
Michaela Mattes faced an early challenge from Texas A&M’s Hayden Miller in the 1000 free, but she pulled away to win by almost 10 seconds in 9:48.37. Mattes doubled up to finish first in the 500 free (4:50.11), pulling away from Miller down the stretch again. Julie Brosseau topped the 200 free (1:48.03), followed by Kaitlyn Owens taking first in the 100 back(54.65). Micayla Cronk was the winner in the 50 free (23.20).
In diving, Camyla Monroy won 3-meter (346.28) and 1-meter (315.98). Zoe Dixon topped the 200 IM (2:02.33), and a tight 400 free relay went to the Gators’ Choate, Lainy Kruger, Reese and Cronk in 3:20.80.
Texas A&M got a win from veteran Liv Theall in the 200 fly (1:58.88), and Chloe Stepanek took first in the 100 free (50.18). The 200 back went to Aviv Barzelay (1:56.79), holding a late challenge from Weyant.