Austin, TX
Rising Texas Sophomores Modglin, Germonprez Post Lifetime Bests on Day 1 of Austin Sectionals
2024 Austin Sectionals
- July 11-14
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center
- Austin, Texas
- LCM (50 meters)
- Results on MeetMobile: “2024 ST TXLA SZ LC Sectional Champs”
Rising University of Texas sophomores Will Modglin and Nate Germonprez kicked off Austin Sectionals on Thursday night with lifetime bests in the 100-meter freestyle and 200 breaststroke, respectively.
Modglin fired off a personal-best 49.07 to win the 100 free, a few tenths quicker than his previous-best 49.41 from last month’s Olympic Trials, where he placed 28th. The 20-year-old also placed 6th in the 100 back (53.69) and 8th in 200 IM (1:58.44) at Trials last month.
Germonprez pulled off an impressive three-second drop in the 200 breast with a victory in 2:13.38, crushing his previous-best 2:16.86 from last summer. The 19-year-old placed 12th in the 200 IM at last month’s Trials, where he did not contest the 200 breast. Germonprez is now within a second of the time it took to make the 200 breast semifinals at Trials (2:12.23).
Modglin was the No. 2 recruit in the high school class of 2023 while Germonprez was ranked 5th.
Recent Texas A&M graduate Chloe Stepanek claimed the women’s 100 free crown in 54.99, just a few tenths off her Olympic Trials performance from last month (54.63) that placed 15th overall. The 22-year-old is in the NCAA transfer portal after spending her first four seasons swimming for the Aggies.
Stepanek reached the wall just a blink ahead of Texas graduate Grace Cooper, who earned a runner-up finish in 55.05. The 21-year-old touched within a couple tenths of the 54.91 she clocked at Olympic Trials last month en route to 21st place. Cooper’s lifetime best sits at 54.67 from last August.
The women’s 200 breast also came down to the wire as rising Texas junior Lindsey Hosch (2:35.43) eked past 17-year-old Aliana Marakovic (2:35.60). Hosch, 20, was only a few tenths shy of her personal-best 2:35.04 from May. Marakovic, a Harvard commit (’25), has been as fast as 2:33.69 last August.
Raphael Wang registered a lifetime best in the 200 breast on his way to 2nd place in 2:16.61. The 17-year-old Duke commit (’25) shaved more than a quarter of a second off his previous-best 2:16.87 from last month.
Texas graduate Emma Sticklen cruised to the women’s 200 butterfly victory in 2:08.95. The 22-year-old is coming off a solid showing at Olympic Trials last month that saw her post a personal-best 2:07.44 in semis before ultimately placing 4th in 2:08.07.
Matthew O’Konski captured the men’s 200 fly title in 2:03.84, dropping more than two seconds off his previous-best 2:06.02 from last July. The Crawfish Aquatics 17-year-old beat Logan Walker (2:04.48) and Andres Brooks (2:04.69) by less than a second.
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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