Austin, TX
Freshman Camden Taylor Hits 50 Free PB As Texas and TCU Square Off in Long Course
Texas vs. TCU
- Friday, February 2, 2024
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, Austin, TX
- LCM
- Full Results
- Unscored
Friday was senior day for the Texas men (although they’d swim the next day as well), and Texas and TCU opted for a fairly unique format: an unscored meet in a long course (50m) format. With a few weeks until conference meets, there weren’t any super-crazy fast times, but there were definitely a few notable swims as the teams continue to fine-tune heading into championship season.
This was the penultimate regular-season home meet for longtime Texas men’s coach Eddie Reese, who is set to retire this summer after 46 season in Austin.
In context of championship-season implications, perhaps the biggest swims came from Texas freshman Camden Taylor. With the Longhorn men having lost so much sprint talent over the last two seasons, they’re relying heavily on freshmen this year, and Taylor is their fastest freshman who’s primarily a freestyler. He anchored the medley relay in 22.30, then came back to win the individual 50 free in 22.97. That’s a big improvement over his previous lifetime best of 23.77, which came last summer. Taylor should be a key relay piece heading into Big 12s and NCAAs, so hitting lifetime bests at this point in the season has to be promising. Taylor also flexed some versatility, winning the 200 IM in 2:03.40. His previous best of 2:04.96 also came last summer.
Luke Hobson is prepping to represent the US in Doha, but Coby Carrozza, who has international experience as part of the USA’s 4×200 free relay team, won the 200m free in 1:48.95.
The race of the night may have been the 100 breast. TCU’s Kito Camossato ran down Texas’ Will Scholtz over the second lap, and just got his hand on the wall first, touching 1:02.72 to Scholtz’s 1:02.73. Another Horned Frog, Jadon Wuilliez, came in just behind at 1:02.89, followed by Longhorn Brayden Taivassalo at 1:03.25. Camossato would double up with a 2:16.71 win in the 200 breast, again beating both Scholtz and Taivassalo.
On the women’s side, Kelly Pash also hit a big lifetime best, clocking a 4:45.60 in the 400 IM. Don’t expect to see Pash swim this during championship season — she’s one of the top 200 freestylers in the country, and those two events conflict. But it still had to be fun for Pash to hit her first personal best in that event in almost 5 years, since she went 4:50.62 back in March 2019. Pash also won the 100 free in 55.11, not far off her personal best of 54.71.
The Longhorn women boast maybe the best 1-2 punch in the 100 breast in the nation, and so it wasn’t a surprise to see Olympians and Texas teammates Lydia Jacoby and Anna Elendt battle it out in their signature event, the 100 breast. Jacoby led by just .08s at the halfway point, and she retained the lead until the end, touching in 1:06.91 to Elendt’s 1:07.21. Elendt would come back to win the 200 breast in 2:30.02.
Other notable wins for the Longhorn women included Olivia Bray in the 200 free (2:00.79) and 100 fly (58.42) and Alicia Wilson taking the 10 back in 1:01.70. Ava Longi also got in on the lifetime best collecting with a 25.50 in the 50 free.
Texas opted not to enter anyone in the 200 fly, arguably the Longhorns’ signature event, and TCU’s Alessandra Senis responded with a 2:16.74 win, setting a new school record in the event, one of seven in total on the day for the Horned Frogs.
Swimming action continued Saturday at the Jill Sterkel classic, which you can read about here.
Texas Release
Courtesy of Texas Athletics
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 2 Texas Women’s Swimming & Diving earned 15 victories and the ninth-ranked Men’s Swimming & Diving squad earned 14 against TCU on Senior Day at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on Friday.
Racing on the long course, the women’s team opened the swim session with the quartet of Berit Berglund, Lydia Jacoby, Emma Sticklen and Erin Gemmell winning the 200-meter medley relay, clocking 1:51.21 for the victory.
Kelly Pash collected a pair wins on Senior Day, first in the 400-meter IM with a career-best 4:45.60 in the 400-meter IM, improving her previous best time by over five seconds, then in the 100-meter free with a time of 55.11.
Fellow senior Olivia Bray also won two events, winning in both the 200-meter free (2:00.79) and 100-meter fly (58.42).
Senior Bridget O’Neil posted a sweep on the springboards, winning on 1-meter with 337.50 points and scored 398.18 points on 3-meter for the victory.
Angie Coe earned two victories as well, winning the 200-meter back in 2:14.69 and the 200-meter IM in 2:17.89, while also placing second in the 50-meter free with a personal-best swim of 25.77.
Lydia Jacoby won the 100-meter breast with a swim of 1:06.91 and senior Anna Elendt won the 200-meter breast in 2:30.02.
Alicia Wilson led the Longhorns in the 100-meter back, winning with a swim of 1:01.70, while senior Ava Longi won the 50-meter free with a career-best 25.50, and Erin Gemmell collected the win in the 400-meter free with a time of 4:12.50.
Emma Davidson, Gemmell, Bray and Longi closed out the swim session with a win in the 200-meter free relay, combining for a time of 1:42.97.
On the men’s side, Will Modglin, Will Scholtz, Cole Crane and Camden Taylor kicked off the day with a win in the 200-meter medley relay with a time of 1:39.77.
Crane swept the butterfly events, winning the 100-meter in 53.62 and the 200-meter in 2:20.06.
Alec Enyeart won the 400-meter IM with a swim of 4:31.64 and the 400-meter free in 3:59.74.
Senior Coby Carrozza earned the win in the 200-meter free, touching the wall in 1:48.95, and took second in the 100-meter free with a time of 50.97.
Nate Germonprez won the 100-meter free in 50.84 and was the runner-up in the 200-meter free with a swim of 1:50.97.
Modglin was the victor in the 100-meter back with a time of 55.22 and Logan Walkerwon the 200-meter back in 2:09.07. Modglin also earned a runner-up finish in the 100-meter fly with a swim of 54.12.
Taylor swam a pair of personal-bests in wins in the 50-meter (22.97) and the 200-meter IM (2:03.40).
The Horns wrapped up racing with a win in the 200-meter free relay with the quartet of Modglin, Germonprez, Aleksej Filipovic and senior Peter Paulus IV combining for a swim of 1:31.06.
On the springboards, senior Noah Duperre captured wins on both 1-meter with 397.43 points and 3-meter with a season-best 449.63 points.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 3 in The Sterkel Classic at the Texas Swimming Center. Racing is slated to begin at noon.
Longhorn Notes:
- The Longhorns celebrated 19 seniors prior to the start of competition.
- From the women’s squad, Texas honored Olivia Bray, Grace Cooper, Emma Davidson, Anna Elendt, Ava Longi, Bridget O’Neil, Kelly Pash, Abby Pfeifer, Jordan Skilken, Emma Sticklen and Erica Sullivan.
- For the men’s team, the Horns recognized Sam Artmann, Coby Carrozza, Cole Crane, Noah Duperre, Jake Foster, Brendan McCourt, Chris O’Connor and Peter Paulus IV.
Women’s Team Notes:
- Elendt registered a season-best 1:07.21 in the 100-meter breast to place second.
- Campbell Stoll swam 1:01.07 in the 100 fly to take second.
- Sticklen took second in the 200 IM with a swim of 2:19.68
- Skilken earned a runner-up result on 3-meter with 341.70 points and took third on 1-meter with 287.73 points.
- Amanda Stalfort scored 322.80 points on 3-meter to finish third and complete the Longhorn sweep of the event.
- Davidson finished as the runner-up in the 100-meter free in 57.05 and Brook Adams placed third with a personal-best 58.01.
- Berit Berglund posted a time of 1:02.17 in the 100-meter back to finish second and Emma Kern took third in 1:02.28.
- Sullivan was the runner-up in the 400-meter free with a swim of 4:16.72.
- Alexa Fulton placed third in the 50-free with a swim of 26.02.
Men’s Team Notes:
- In the 100-meter back, O’Connor placed second (56.19) and Filipovic took third (57.16).
- Artmann took second in the 200-meter fly, clocking 2:03.76 for the runner-up result, and Ryan Branon posted a time of 2:05.01 to finish third.
- Brayden Taivassalo was the Longhorns’ top finisher in the 200-meter breast, placing second in 2:18.01.
- Sasha Lyubavskiy took second in the 400-meter free with a time of 4:00.27.
- Nick Harris had a pair of runner-up results on the springboards, taking second on 1-meter with 377.70 points and scored a season-high 446.33 points on 3-meter.
- McCourt took third on 1-meter with 374.03 points and Tanner Braunton placed third on 3-meter with a season-high 419.63 points.
TCU Release
Courtesy of TCU Athletics
Austin, Texas – The TCU swimming and diving team wrapped up its final tune up before the 2024 Big 12 Championships Feb. 27- March 3. The Horned Frogs fell to Texas on Friday, Jan, 2 in final dual meet of the season before competing in the Sterkel Classic on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
The Frogs tallied 10 first place finishes, 18 second place finishes and 27 third place finishes over the course of the weekend.
IN THE POOL VS TEXAS
TCU set seven new school records in Long Course Meters against Texas on Friday. The excitement began with the women’s 200 Medley Relay team setting a new record with a time of 1:55.69. The men’s 200 medley relay team matched the women’s team setting a record of their own with a time of 1:41.12.
Nina Vadovicova had a successful day going 2-2 on setting new school records in both events she competed in. The freshman set a new TCU record in the 100 breast LCM with a time of 1:10.79 before touching the wall at 2:32.59 in the 200 breast LCM.
Alessandra Senis was one of three Horned Frogs to touch the wall first against the Longhorns. Senis broke a 28-year-old school record in the 200 fly LCM while earning the gold with a time of 2:16.74.
Kito Camossato finished at the top of both of his individual races against Texas with a time of 1:02.72 in the 100 breast LCM and 2:16.71 in the 200 breast LCM.
The women and men’s 200 freestyle relays wrapped up the meet while also setting two more school records. The women’s team touched the wall at 1:45.14 and the men at 1:33.15.
ON THE BOARDS VS TEXAS
Five diving Frogs earned Zone Cuts against the Longhorns. Anna Kwong got things started with a score of 329.25 on the 1-meter. Alec Hubbard and Oliver Cazaly earned zone cuts in the 1-meter with scored of 339.38 and 307.20, respectively.
Emma Lacarda Herrera set a new career high on the 3-meter springboard and earned a zone cut with a score of 292.80. Kwong followed right behind her with a score of 288.90
Hubbard earned a score of 370.43 on the platform to earn his second zone cut of the day before Leah Fletcher earned her first of the weekend on the platform scoring a 247.80.
IN THE POOL STERKEL CLASSIC
TCU tallied seven first, seven second and eight third place finishes at the Sterkel Classic on Saturday which featured Rice and Texas.
Luke DiMiceli kicked things off in the 200 IM touching the wall first at 1:46.52.
Camossato closed off a successful weekend going 2-2 in the 200 breast and 100 breast with times of 1:55.93 and 53.82, respectively.
Piotr Sadlowski earned his first-place finish in the 200 fly with a time of 1:47.01.
Tania Quaglieri and Germia Freri finished in first place in the 200 freestyle with times of 1:48.82 and 1:37.89. Edgar Cicanci closed out the weekend for TCU with a first-place finish in the 200 back touching the wall at 1:46.40.
UP NEXT
The Horned Frogs will head to Morgantown, W. Va. for the 2024 Big 12 Championships Feb. 27-March 3.
FOLLOW THE FROGS
For more information on TCU Swimming and Diving, visit gofrogs.com and follow the team on social media: @TCUSwimDive on Twitter and Facebook, @TCU_SwimDive on Instagram.
Austin, TX
Missing Austin woman Ghadah Alharbi found Safely, APD confirms
AUSTIN, Texas – A 28-year-old Austin woman who was reported missing earlier this week has been located, according to the Austin Police Department.
What we know:
Police announced Saturday that Ghadah Alharbi has been found following a public appeal for information about her whereabouts.
Alharbi was last known to have contacted family members by phone around 8 p.m. on June 16. Her disappearance was described by investigators as out of character, prompting concern from both her family and the Austin Police Department.
Authorities said she had left her vehicle at her residence in Central Austin near Mueller and was known to use ride-share services for transportation.
Dig deeper:
The Austin Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit had requested the public’s assistance in locating Alharbi on Friday, citing concerns for her well-being.
In an update released Saturday, police confirmed Alharbi had been located but did not provide additional details about where she was found or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Police thanked the community and media for their assistance and cooperation.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by Austin police.
Austin, TX
The Biggest Mistake National Media Is Making About The Texas Longhorns
Following controversial comments from head coach Steve Sarkisian and recruiting battles with other contending teams, the Texas Longhorns have once again found themselves in the national spotlight ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Just like this time 365 days ago, the Longhorns are the favorites to win the SEC Championship by the time the postseason rolls around, as well as be contenders for the national championship — despite failing to gain a playoff berth in 2025.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Texas’ preseason hype centered around quarterback Arch Manning and his first year at the helm of the Longhorns’ offense. Despite predictions that Manning would win the Heisman and be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Longhorns went on to a nine-win regular season with steady, ongoing improvements in Manning’s performance.
Now, the attention from national media seems due to the “all-in” season that the Longhorns are looking toward, with a huge roster turnover through the transfer portal suggesting that this is the make-or-break year for Texas — and Manning — to achieve any national championship hopes.
However, a “make-or-break” season isn’t necessarily what’s ahead for Texas in 2026.
Texas’ Championship Hopes Aren’t Necessarily Over After 2026
It’s fair to assume that the Longhorns are going all in for a national championship in 2026, given the emphasis on experienced transfer portal talent, coaching staff changes and even talk from some players about what the team’s goals are over the offseason.
But considering 2026 as the Longhorns’ last chance for a trophy in the immediate future isn’t as easily justifiable, especially when Texas may not be considering much of a rebuild after this season ends. Sarkisian himself didn’t deny that Manning may come back for another year with Texas in 2027, and many key playmakers on both offense and defense have several more years of eligibility left.
Especially looking at Texas’ incoming class of freshmen and history with the transfer portal, it’s likely that the Longhorns are setting themselves up for longevity more than immediate success. If Manning does decide to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft, incoming freshman quarterback Dia Bell will be an exciting prospect for Texas to bank on when looking for its next offensive leader.
It’s natural that the Longhorns should continue to generate national excitement, especially with the newest five-star commit to the 2027 class. Even so, Texas has a habit of bucking the trends and national predictions. The pressure was on in 2025 to win a national championship in Manning’s first year as a starter, and as more mock drafts continue to slate him as a first-rounder, that pressure has only heightened in what most onlookers see as his last year playing college football.
Whether the Longhorns will buckle under that pressure this go-around will be seen, starting with their home opener against Texas State on Sept. 5.
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Austin, TX
Austin community celebrates ‘Black Artists Matter’ mural before removal
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin city leaders gathered on East 11th Street on Juneteenth to celebrate the “Black Artists Matter” mural before it must be removed under an order from the Texas Department of Transportation. The mural and the city’s rainbow crosswalk are slated for removal in compliance with a Texas Department of Transportation directive requiring cities to remove political ideologies from roadways. Last October, Gov. Greg Abbott directed TxDOT to enforce the policy.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson stood on the blocked-off street where the yellow letters spelling “Black Artists Matter” are painted on the roadway’s surface. “We will never forget that when the state decided to target our murals, the community stood together to celebrate our city’s diversity, spirit, and creativity,” Watson said.
Watson criticized the state’s actions, saying, “The state government engages in negative rhetoric and threats, it targets communities that it disagrees with and seeks retribution.”
In response to the order, Watson formed the Public Spaces Task Force to identify other ways to celebrate diversity in Austin.
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KEYE
Daphne McDole, chief executive officer of the African American Cultural Heritage District and a member of the task force, said she wanted the event held on Juneteenth because of its significance. “I wanted to do it on Juneteenth, it was significant to me because I knew that that was the day my community would be in the district. We will be celebrating over here all day, so it was appropriate,” McDole said.
Task force members said they are exploring alternatives to honor East Austin’s history and diversity. They noted that city leaders in San Antonio created rainbow sidewalks after removing rainbow crosswalks, but said Austin will pursue its own approach.
Task force chair Steven Rivas said the community is focused on preserving the meaning behind the markings. “We chose to come together as a community and find a way to respect what these markings mean and build upon them. If we can’t have them in the street, we’re going to put them off the street,” Rivas said.
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