Texas Seniors Go Out Texas Style — Guns A Blazin’ in Strong Runner-up Finish (VIDEO)

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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The Texas seniors have been through it all.

They have won a close NCAA championship, lost a close NCAA championship and missed out on a chance at a championship because of a pandemic.

Coming into the meet, they knew that another epic battle with Cal was on the docket, and only their best could get it done.

It turns out the Longhorns were about at their best — great performances by Drew Kibler, Carson Foster, Jake Foster, Luke Hobson, Caspar Corbeau, Cameron Auchinachie and the relays — but Cal was just a little bit better.

But getting a third chance at a Cal showdown and having a shot going into the final day is something rare in swimming, but Cal and Texas have done this for more than a decade, going 1-2 in some order every year but one in the past decade.

Going into battle together with the team is something the Texas seniors will remember most — and for the longest.

“It’s funny that you mention that because I was just talking with my roommate, Peter Larson, about that. I’ve been coming into bigger meets thinking, ‘What will it be like when I tell my kids someday?’” Drew Kibler said. “I’m not really sure, but we had a blast this week. The stuff that we were doing on the eighth floor of our hotel, just messing around, doing the stuff we did all year, and then showing up and giving it our all … I knew I came into this meet thinking I would be at peace. That’s what’s most important to me, and that’s exactly how I feel right now.”

Kibler isn’t the only Longhorn to feel that way.

“Twenty years in the future, I’m not necessarily going to be thinking about win or loss. I’m just going to think about the positive emotions and memories we created. Being on Texas Men’s Swimming and Diving is a kind of brotherhood that cuts deep,” Caspar Corbeau said. “I personally believe there’s no other team like it.”

That is why they took so much pride in winning the 400 freestyle relay to close the meet. They went out Texas style — guns a blazin’.

“It’s in our nature to race, to give it everything we have. It can be easy to throw in the towel, but Texas Fight all the way. I was reminiscing on my seniors, how they fought all the way (in the same situation in 2019),” Kibler said. “It meant a lot.”

Enough to come back for a fifth year?

“I don’t know. I’m always flip-flopping on this,” Kibler said. “I had a great time last summer. There was a point in time when I thought I’d be done when my senior year was over. I think making it a firm, I’m not the type to make super-firm decisions like that. I’ll do exactly what feels right, and the only thing I’m sure of is I’m swimming in the San Antonio Pro Series next week (and then world trials).”

Said Daniel Krueger: “I’m not really sure what the future holds at this point. I want to let the emotions cool down a little bit. Whether it’s continuing swimming or continuing my engineering career, I’m still working that stuff out.”

Cameron Auchinachie said he is leaning toward being done, riding into the sunset having left everything in the pool.

“I don’t think there’s a better way to close out a career, and I’m really grateful that I had it,” Auchinachie said. “There’s a good chance that I retire on a pretty great note with a great group of guys.”

Now coach Eddie Reese on the other hand …. Who knows?

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E B

2 years ago

What a pathetic article, “guns a blazin'” and “going into battle”. It’s an effing swim meet that no one but them will remember in 5 years. Not a war!

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Stewie

2 years ago

Reply to E B

And yet you came here to negatively comment on young men competing at the highest level…. Go back to mom’s basement.