recruiting class '08
The Longhorn men have not relinquished their crown since head coach Eddie Reese's second year in 1980 when UT was part of the Southwest Conference. Texas became the first squad in men's conference history to capture every event over the four-day championship as they went on to compile a conference record 1,129 points. Texas A&M won the final event of the championship to give them a second place finish with 778 followed closely by Missouri with 775.
The Aggie women earned 967 points for their second straight conference title followed by Texas (748), Missouri (519.5), Kansas (505.5), Iowa State (347) and Nebraska (349).
The Aggies were absolutely dominant from start to finish, winning 17 of 18 swimming events for the week including all five relays. Their final point total of 967 is a new school record for points at a conference meet as well as the fourth highest total by any team in Big 12 history. For his team’s amazing performance this week, A&M head coach Steve Bultman was named Big 12 Swimming Coach of the Meet for the sixth time in seven seasons, including the last five in a row.
“For so long we had to strive just to even get close to Texas but because of them it has helped us get to where we are today,” Bultman said. “We had some outstanding performances all the way through. I’m real proud of them for taking care of business here and swimming very, very well because a lot of them have an eye on NCAA’s as well. They know this is an important meet and they are excited about what happened this week but they know we have future goals ahead of us. That said, this was really a lot of fun.”
Junior Julia Wilkinson (Stratford, Ont.) was named Big 12 Swimmer of the Meet after becoming the first swimmer since 2001 to set three all-time conference records since former U.S. Olympian Colleen Lanne of Texas did so. Wilkinson won the 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle while swimming on four of the Aggies’ five Big 12 champion relays.
The Big 12 Conference honored the top performers of the championships based on a vote of the league's head coaches at the conclusion of the meet. The men's honorees include Swimmer of the Meet: Michael Klueh, Texas; Newcomer of the Meet: Jonathan Jackson, Texas; Diver of the Meet: Matt Cooper, Texas; Swim Coach of the Meet: Eddie Reese (1997, 1999-2002, 04, 06-07); Dive Coach of the Meet: Matt Scoggin, Texas (2000-02, 04, 08)
In the women's field, the following received recognition, Swimmer of the Meet:Julia Wilkinson, Texas A&M; Co-Newcomers of the Meet: Melanie Dodd, Texas A&M and Natalie Sacco, Texas; Diver of the Meet: Mary Yarrison, Texas (2006-08); Swim Coach of the Meet: Steve Bultman, Texas A&M (2002, 04-08); Dive Coach of the Meet: Eric Elliot, Kansas
The Aggie women carried their strong swimming into the final day as junior Kristen Heiss won the 200-yard backstroke for the second straight year with an NCAA automatic time of 1:56.28. Julia Wilkinson earned her third individual title of the championship finishing in a meet record time of 47.80 in the 100-yard freestyle. Alia Atkinson claimed her second straight 200-breaststroke title in an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 2:11.77 while Christine Marshall took top honors in the 200-yard butterfly finishing in 1:57.56.
UT's Susana Escobar captured the long race of the night, winning the 1650-freestyle in 16:18.86 while teammate Jim Robertson claimed the title on the men's side with a NCAA consideration time of 15:25.32.
In the men's events, Texas won all six races and set two meet records along the way. Sean Patton started off the night for the Longhorns with a victory in the 200-yard backstroke (1:42.72) while teammate Dave Walters won the 100-yard freestyle in 42.57, claiming his second individual title of the meet and setting a Big 12 record. Agustin Magruder earned the 200-yard breaststroke title finishing in 1:55.67 well under the automatic qualifying time. Rick Berens grabbed another meet title and automatic qualifying mark with his 1:43.64 finish in the 200-yard butterfly.
The A&M women capped off their championship night taking the 400-yard freestyle relay in a NCAA automatic qualifying time of 3:15.55 while the Texas men won the event in a meet record time of 2:52.08.
Longhorn Matt Cooper earned his second diving title in his debut season with his first place finish on the platform event (374.35) while Missouri's Kendra Melnychuk took top honors on the women's side with 284 points..: Stein Hired as Missouri Assistant Aug 14th
.: Mizzou's Jaben Tests Positive Jul 19th
.: Nordell Hired as Assistant at Iowa State Jun 12th
.: Ranking the Classes: #11-25 May 28th
.: Ranking the Classes: #1 - Texas May 28th
.: Texas' Brackin Responds to Class Ranking May 21st
.: Ranking the Classes: 11-25 May 20th
.: Ranking the Classes: #1 - Texas May 20th
.: NCAA Men's Division I Championship Preview Mar 26th