Austin, TX
Nate Germonprez Blasts Huge Lifetime Best in 50 Free to Close Out Austin Sectionals
2024 AUSTIN SECTIONALS
Rising University of Texas sophomore Nate Germonprez capped the four-day Austin Sectional meet on Sunday with a huge lifetime best in the 50 freestyle.
The 19-year-old Germonprez dominated the 50 free final in 22.49, dropping almost a second off his previous-best 23.28 from 2021. He would have placed 22nd at Olympic Trials last month, where he placed 12th in the 200 IM (1:58.97). Germonprez touched more than half a second ahead of Longhorns classmate Camden Taylor (23.07) at Sectionals as they gear up for their first season under former Arizona State head coach Bob Bowman.
Germonprez didn’t swim the 200 IM on Sunday, but the event still features some impressive finishes courtesy of recent Texas A&M graduate Thomas Shomper and Waterloo Swimming 17-year-old Raphael Wang. Shomper won the battle in 2:03.72, taking almost two seconds off his previous-best 2:05.45 from 2021. The 22-year-old backstroke specialist placed 25th in the 100 back (55.11) and 27th in the 200 back (2:00.23) at Olympic Trials last month.
Wang earned the runner-up finish in the 200 IM with a lifetime best of 2:06.33 as the Duke commit (’25) knocked more than two seconds off his previous-best 2:08.59 from last August.
Recent Texas A&M graduate Chloe Stepanek continued her red-hot weekend with another lifetime best en route to the 200 IM title in 2:17.63. She dropped almost two seconds off her previous-best 2:19.20 from 2022 as the freestyle specialist seeks a fifth-year collegiate destination in the NCAA transfer portal.
Rising Texas A&M sophomore Hannah O’Leary was the only other swimmer under 2:20 in the women’s 200 IM final on her way to 2nd place in 2:19.56. The 19-year-old dropped more than two seconds off her previous-best 2:21.81 from 2022.
The lone high schooler to come away with an individual title on Sunday was Harvard commit (’25) Aliana Marakovic in the women’s 50 free (26.38). The 17-year-old has been as fast as 26.19 last August. Rising Texas sophomore Emma Kern was close behind Marakovic in 26.46, within a few tenths of her personal-best 26.17 from 2022.
Colton Bennett captured the men’s 1500 free crown in 16:27.90, crushing his previous-best 16:34.55 from 2022. The 19-year-old Henderson State commit (’24) beat Travis Ly (16:28.69) by less than a second in a thrilling showdown earlier in the day. Rising Texas A&M junior Kaylee Coffey clinched the women’s 1500 free title in 17:38.42, more than 10 seconds slower than her personal-best 17:27.57 from last July.
Austin, TX
Antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island fell by half in 2025, ADL says
There was a significant reduction in the number of antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island in 2025, according to a national Jewish advocacy group.
According to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, there were 26 antisemitic incidents in the state last year. That’s down from the 52 incidents counted by the group in 2024.
Samantha Joseph, New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, says a big reason for the reduction is a steep decline in antisemitism on college campuses.
“It shows that campus administrators are taking their responsibilities very seriously to provide a safe environment for all of their students,” said Joseph.
Brown University had over $500 million in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration last year following investigations into alleged antisemitism on campus. The funding was restored after Brown reached a settlement with the administration.
The reduction in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island reflects a wider trend in New England as a whole. According to the ADL’s report, there were 400 antisemitic incidents in the region in 2025, compared to 638 the previous year.
While she’s pleased about the overall drop in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island, Joseph says a number of concerning trends continue to persist. In particular, the state is still seeing more anti-Jewish incidents than it did prior to the October 7 attacks on Israel that launched the Gaza War in 2023.
Joseph is also concerned about the violent nature of local incidents of antisemitism.
“Even though overall incidents are down, assaults are up and assaults with a deadly weapon are up significantly,” said Joseph. “Our communities remain concerned for their safety, and our work is far from done.”
Austin, TX
Live blog: Severe thunderstorms possible in Central Texas
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday evening as a cold front arrives in Central Texas. KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team will keep you updated on the weather coverage.
Risks to be aware of are damaging wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 to 75 mph and large hail up to quarter size.
Weather Resources:
Live Updates:
5:22 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for all counties except for Milam County.
3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m.: The primary risk for Sunday’s severe weather is damaging wind gusts which could cause power outages.
3:26 p.m.: Storms will likely move toward the I-35 corridor around 6 p.m. Most of the storms will enter the Hill Country around 6 p.m. and the Austin metro counties after 8 p.m.
Austin, TX
Letter to the editor from Texas emeritus professor on Dell donation
Video of new Texas Tech System chancellor home at historic Lubbock property
The Texas Tech System is acquiring the historic Tudor Revival ‘English Home’ in Lubbock to serve as the new chancellor’s residence.
Money and rankings don’t make a great university. Providing opportunities for disadvantaged students and protecting academic freedom, however, do.
Case in point: Michael and Susan Dell recently surpassed $1 billion in giving to the University of Texas at Austin, launching a plan to build a new medical center and advanced research campus in north Austin.
To be sure, this is a magnanimous gift that will fund important initiatives. While enormously grateful for this contribution, I am disappointed that this gift was not accompanied with a strong message from Michael Dell admonishing the University for gutting DEI and infringing upon academic freedom.
As a colleague of mine astutely observed: “Good luck recruiting doctors and med students. The attacks on DEI and political climates will mean a lot more than rankings and money long-term.”
UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife, referencing the Dell gift, is right: “We are transforming this site into a new campus the world has never seen before.” Yes, never seen, but in a very negative and dangerous way!
Last week, I received a message from the Texas Exes: “This is your last chance to show your support during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, UT Austin’s Texas-sized fundraising event. Can we count on you?”
My answer: “No, absolutely not. I won’t give one dime to a university that no longer is committed to diversity and preserving academic freedom.”
Having proudly taught at UT for 41 years, I am sad to say this.
– Richard Cherwitz, Ph.D. is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication and Founding Director, Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium (IE) at The University of Texas at Austin.
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