2023 Virginia vs. Texas Dual Meet: ‘Super Finals’ Live Recap

Virginia vs. Texas

• Oct. 27-28, 2023
• UVA Aquatic and Fitness Center
  • Charlottesville, Virginia
• SCY (25 yards)
• Results on MeetMobile: “UVA v Texas Super Finals”
• PDF results

One of the most highly anticipated dual meets of the season has arrived as Texas (No. 2 women/No. 7 men) visits Virginia (No. 1 women/No. 15 men) for a weekend matchup that starts with some winner-take-all “super finals” on Friday.

The one-on-one super final is reserved for the top swimmer on each team while everyone else competes in the regular four-on-four heats. The head-to-head winner earns five points, and the loser gets zero. Check out the full event schedule below and a detailed breakdown of the meet here.

Friday Night Dual Meet Lineup:

• W: 200 medley relay (1 v. 1)
• M: 200 medley relay (1 v. 1)
• W: 200 free (4 v. 4)
• M: 200 free (4 v. 4)
• W. 100 back (4 v. 4)
  • Super final (1 v. 1)
• M. 100 back (4 v. 4)
  • Super final (1 v. 1)
• W. 100 breast (4 v. 4)
  • Super final (1 v. 1)
• M. 100 breast (4 v. 4)
  • Super final (1 v. 1)
• Break
• W. 50 free ‘C’ final (1 v. 1)
  • W. 50 free ‘B’ final (1 v. 1)
    • W. 50 free ‘A’ final (1 v. 1)
• M. 50 free ‘C’ final (1 v. 1)
  • M. 50 free ‘B’ final (1 v. 1)
    • M. 50 free ‘A’ final (1 v. 1)
• W. 500 free (4 v. 4)
• W. 100 IM (4 v. 4)
  • Super final (1 v. 1)
• M. 100 IM (4 v. 4)
  • Super final (1 v. 1)
• W. 100 fly (4 v. 4)
  • Super final (1 v. 1)
• M. 100 fly (4 v. 4)
  • Super final (1 v. 1)
• M. 500 free (4 v. 4)
• Break
• W. 200 free relay (1 v. 1)
• M. 200 free relay (1 v. 1)

Women’s 200 Medley Relay

• NCAA record: 1:31.51, Virginia (2023)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:36.24

1 v. 1:

1. Virginia – 1:34.32
2. Texas – 1:35.63

Gretchen Walsh got the meet started with a bang by clocking a 22.54 backstroke split leading off Virginia’s 200 medley relay, marking the second-fastest 50 back split of all time behind Maggie MacNeil‘s 22.52 at the 2023 SEC Championships. Walsh lowered her own American record of 22.65 from the 2023 ACC Championships on her way to the win.

Jasmine Nocentini followed G. Walsh with a 26.97 breast split, Alex Walsh posted a 22.80 butterfly split, and Maxine Parker anchored with a 22.01 free split to secure the Cavaliers’ victory in 1:34.32. The Texas quartet of Emma Kern (24.23 back), Anna Elendt (26.40 breast), Emma Sticklen (23.22 fly), and Grace Cooper (21.78 free) was more than a full second behind in 1:35.63.

Men’s 200 Medley Relay

• NCAA record: 1:20.67, NC State (2023)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:23.71

1. Virginia – 1:26.96
2. Texas – 1:27.61

The Virginia quartet of Will Cole, Noah Nichols, Tim Connery, and Connor Boyle combined for a 1:26.96 to outduel the Texas men in their first matchup of the meet, but splits are still not available for this race.

Women’s 200 Free

• NCAA record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (2015)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:42.84

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Erin Gemmell (TEX) – 1:44.64
2. Aimee Canny (UVA) – 1:45.70
3. Tess Howley (UVA) – 1:45.91
4. Ella Nelson (UVA) – 1:46.01
5. Angie Coe (TEX) – 1:46.51
6. Kate Morris (UVA) – 1:49.18
7. Emma Davidson (TEX) – 1:49.66
8. Alicia Wilson (TEX) – 1:52.69

Men’s 200 Free

• NCAA record: 1:29.15, Dean Farris (2019)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:31.74

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Luke Hobson (TEX) – 1:35.96
2. Sebastien Sergile (UVA) – 1:36.02
3. Spencer Aurnou-Rhees (TEX) – 1:37.97
4. Alex Hotta (UVA) – 1:38.55
5. Hayden Bellotti (UVA) – 1:38.57
6. Manning Haskal (TEX) – 1:38.68
7. Noah Dyer (UVA) – 1:39.10
8. Kobe Ndebele (TEX) – 1:42.50

Texas sophomore Luke Hobson hung on for the 200 free win in 1:35.96 despite a late charge from UVA sophomore Sebastien Sergile (1:36.02). Hobson was well off his personal-best 1:29.63 from his 800 free relay leadoff at NCAAs last season while Sergile was within a couple seconds of his lifetime best (1:34.05) from last February. Texas sophomore Spencer Aurnou-Rhees was the only other swimmer who finished under the 1:38 mark.

Women’s 100 Back

• NCAA record: 48.26, Gretchen Walsh (2023)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 50.88

1 v 1 Super Final:

1. Berit Berglund (TEX) – 51.76
2. Alex Walsh (UVA) – 52.01

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Emma Kern (TEX) – 52.92
2. Emma Sticklen (TEX) – 52.95
3. Carly Novelline (UVA) – 53.66
4. Ella Bathurst (UVA) – 54.33
5. Campbell Stoll (TEX) – 54.44
6. Izzy Bradley (UVA) – 55.03
7. Meghan DiMartile (TEX) – 55.25
8. Abby Kapeller (UVA) – 55.54

The first super final of the day lived to the hype as Virginia senior Alex Walsh swam her first 100 back since last year’s dual meet against Texas. Walsh went faster than last year (52.10) with a time of 52.01, but it wasn’t enough to beat Texas freshman Berit Berglund, who was within half a second of her personal-best 51.32 from 2021 to secure the first five super final points for the Longhorns. Walsh has been as fast as 50.88 back in 2018.

Men’s 100 Back

• NCAA record: 43.35, Luca Urlando (2022)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 44.71

1 v. 1 Super Final:

1. Will Modglin (TEX) – 47.16
2. Will Cole (UVA) – 47.65

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Alec Filipovic (TEX) – 47.92
2. Will Thompson (UVA) – 48.12
3. Teddy Cross (UVA) – 48.60
4. Nathan Quarterman (TEX) – 48.76
5. Jack Berube (UVA) – 49.19
6. Logan Walker (TEX) – 49.75
7. Finn Winkler (TEX) – 50.17
8. Colin Bitz (UVA) – 50.89

Texas freshmen kept their momentum rolling in the second super final of the day as Will Modglin (47.16) cruised past Virginia senior Will Cole (47.65) for the 100 back title by almost half a second. Modglin was a couple seconds off his personal-best 45.01 from last December while Cole was only about a second off his lifetime best (46.37) from March of 2021.

Women’s 100 Breast

• NCAA record: 55.73, Lilly King (2019)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 58.02

1 v. 1 Super Final:

1. Jasmine Nocentini (UVA) – 58.19
2. Anna Elendt (TEX) – 58.78

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Zoe Skirboll (UVA) – 1:00.52
2. Ella Nelson (UVA) – 1:00.54
3. Aimee Canny (UVA) – 1:01.18
4. Channing Hanley (TEX) – 1:01.98
5. Angie Coe (TEX) – 1:02.26
6. Ellie Andrews (TEX) – 1:04.14
7. Aimee Crosbie (UVA) – 1:04.59
8. Lindsey Hosch (TEX) – 1:05.96

Northwestern transfer Jasmine Nocentini threw down a statement swim to win an epic 100 breast super final against Texas senior Anna Elendt, who placed 3rd at NCAAs last season.

Nocentini blazed a personal-best 58.19 to beat Elendt (58.78) by more than half a second, in the process shaving over a tenth of a second off her previous-best 58.31 from last November. Elendt’s lifetime best sits at 56.88 from the 2022 NCAA Championships, where she placed 5th after leading prelims with a time that would have won the final.

Virginia showed off its depth in the 4 v. 4 heat by snagging the top three spots courtesy of Zoe Skirboll (1:00.52), Ella Nelson (1:00.54), and Aimee Canny (1:01.18). As a reminder, Olympic champion Lydia Jacoby is redshirting the fall semester for the Longhorns.

Men’s 100 Breast

• NCAA record: 49.69, Ian Finnerty (2018)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 51.10

1 v. 1 Super Final:

1. Noah Nichols (UVA) – 52.39
2. Nate Germonprez (TEX) – 53.67

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Will Scholtz (TEX) – 54.25
2. Max Iida (UVA) – 54.46
3. Tim Connery (UVA) – 54.71
4. Kamal Muhammad (UVA) – 55.28
5. Jay Gerloff (UVA) – 56.08
6. Alex Turney (TEX) – 56.24
7. Andrew Zettle (TEX) – 57.91
8. Ethan Doehler (TEX) – 58.04

Noah Nichols doesn’t need any breaks.

Fresh off a plane from Santiago, Chile, where he earned a runner-up finish in the 100-meter breast at the 2023 Pan American Games (1:00.43), Nichols slotted into the super final against Nate Germonprez and beat the Texas freshman by more than a full second with a winning time of 52.39. Nichols’ personal best is a 50.82 from February while Germonprez was only about a second off his personal-best 52.59 from last December.

Scoring Update at the Break

Women: Virginia 48, Texas 48

Men: Texas 55, Virginia 41

Women’s 50 Free:

• NCAA record: 20.79, Maggie MacNeil (2023)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 21.63

Results of three 1 v. 1s:

1. Gretchen Walsh (UVA) – 20.95
2. Jasmine Nocentini (UVA) – 21.98
3. Grace Cooper (TEX) – 22.18
4. Maxine Parker (UVA) – 22.21
5. Emma Davidson (TEX) – 22.65
6. Ava Longi (TEX) – 22.77

Gretchen Walsh took down the UVA pool record with a 20.95 in the 50 free, winning the event by more than a second over teammate Jasmine Nocentini (21.98). Walsh was only .12 seconds off her personal-best 20.83 from the 2023 ACC Championships and just .16 seconds off Maggie MacNeil‘s NCAA record of 20.79 from March. Meanwhile, Nocentini clocked the only other sub-22 time in the three head-to-head showdowns, not far off her personal-best 21.59 from last November.

Men’s 50 Free

• NCAA record: 17.63, Caeleb Dressel (2018)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 18.82

Results of three 1 v. 1s:

1. Connor Boyle (UVA) – 19.97
2. Will Modglin (TEX) – 20.22
3. Jack Madoch (UVA) – 20.25
4. Peter Paulus (TEX) – 20.42
5. Simon Lins (UVA) – 20.44
6. Camden Taylor (TEX) – 20.54

Virginia junior Connor Boyle was the only swimmer under 20 seconds on the men’s side, a good sign for him as he attempts to regain his peak form from 2022. His best 50 free time is a 19.18 from the 2022 NCAA Championships, where he was just a couple hundredths away from qualifying for the B-final as a freshman.

Texas freshman Will Modglin was the second-fastest swimmer in the head-to-head showdowns, touching in 20.22 after winning the 100 back (47.16) earlier in the session. His best 50 free time is a 19.56 from March.

Women’s 500 Free

• NCAA record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky (2017)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 4:37.89

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Erin Gemmell (TEX) – 4:42.66
2. Cavan Gormsen (UVA) – 4:42.90
3. Lainey Mullins (UVA) – 4:49.29
4. Sophia Knapp (UVA) – 4:52.51
5. Maddie Donohoe (UVA) – 4:54.31
6. Ella Myers (TEX) – 4:58.26
7. Abby Pfeifer (TEX) – 4:58.54
8. Olivia McMurray (TEX) – 4:59.55

The women’s 500 free saw a thrilling battle between freshmen as Texas standout Erin Gemmell (4:42.66) edged Virginia’s Cavan Gormsen (4:42.90) by just a couple tenths of a second. Gemmell’s best time is a 4:40.63 from 2021 while Gormsen has been as fast as 4:36.34 in March (which would have won the NCAA title).

The Cavaliers put their distance free depth on display by claiming four of the top five spots thanks to Lainey Mullins (4:49.29), Sophia Knapp (4:52.51), and Maddie Donohoe (4:54.31).

Women’s 100 IM

• NCAA record: 52.09, Gretchen Walsh (2022)

1 v. 1 Super Final:

1. Alex Walsh (UVA) – 53.21
2. Angie Coe (TEX) – 54.89

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Zoe Skirboll (UVA) – 55.07
2. Alicia Wilson (TEX) – 56.43
3. Sam Baron (UVA) – 56.89
4. Berit Berglund (TEX) – 56.91
5. Ella Bathurst (UVA) – 57.06
6. Anna Elendt (TEX) – 57.26
7. Sophia Wilson (UVA) – 58.74
8. Riley Courtney (TEX) – 58.82

Alex Walsh won the women’s 100 IM super final by more than a second and a half with a time of 53.21. The Virginia senior hadn’t recorded an official time in the event since 2013 (1:01.38). Walsh’s competitor, Texas freshman Angie Coe, had never contested the 100 IM before in an official capacity.

Men’s 100 IM

• NCAA record: 46.63, Leon Marchand (2022)

1 v. 1 Super Final:

1. Nate Germonprez (TEX) – 48.45
2. Tim Connery (UVA) – 48.81

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Noah Nichols (UVA) – 49.06
2. Alec Filipovic (TEX) – 49.99
3. Max IIDA (UVA) – 50.15
4. Spencer Aurnou-Rhees (TEX) – 50.70
5. Matt Styczen (UVA) – 50.86
6. George Flanders (TEX) – 51.15
7. Jack Moore (UVA) – 51.54
8. Finn Winkler (TEX) – 51.56

After losing his first super final in the 100 breast, Texas freshman Nate Germonprez returned after the break and triumphed in the 100 IM super final with a winning time of 48.45. Germonprez hadn’t contested the 100 IM since 2017, when he went 1:03.16 — meaning today’s win marked an improvement of almost 15 seconds. Virginia junior Tim Connery finished a few tenths back in 48.81, nearly four seconds faster than his previous-best 52.50 from 2020.

Women’s 100 Fly

• NCAA record: 48.46, Kate Douglass (2023)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 50.69

1 v. 1 Super Final:

1. Gretchen Walsh (UVA) – 49.11
2. Emma Sticklen (TEX) – 52.76

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Tess Howley (UVA) – 53.05
2. Campbell Stoll (TEX) – 53.29
3. Carly Novelline (UVA) – 53.98
4. Ava Longi (TEX) – 54.12
5. Emma Kern (TEX) – 54.38
6. Maggie Schalow (UVA) – 54.83
7. Aimee Crosbie (UVA) – 56.34
8. Alexa Fulton (TEX) – 56.62

After already lowering her own American record in the 50 back (22.54) and posting a sub-21 50 free victory, Gretchen Walsh continued her legendary session by firing off a personal-best 49.11 to win the 100 fly super final by more than three seconds ahead of Texas senior Emma Sticklen (52.76).

Walsh dropped more than two-tenths of a second off her previous-best 49.34 from the 2023 ACC Championships, where she placed 2nd behind Kate Douglass. Sticklen has been sub-50 on one occasion last January against NC State (49.79).

Men’s 100 Fly

• NCAA record: 42.80, Caeleb Dressel (2018)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 44.64

1 v. 1 Super Final:

1. Kamal Muhammad (UVA) – 47.43
2. Will Modglin (TEX) – 49.05

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Sebastien Sergile (UVA) – 48.13
2. Hayden Bellotti (UVA) – 48.19
3. Holden Smith (TEX) – 48.96
4. Sam Artmann (TEX) – 48.98
5. Ryan Branon Jr. (TEX) – 50.24
6. Ethan Doehler (TEX) – 50.33
7. Tristen Davin (UVA) – 50.48
8. Patrick Gilhool (UVA) – 51.09

Virginia sophomore Kamal Muhammad crushed Texas freshman Will Modglin in the 100 fly super final with a winning time of 47.43, within a second of his personal best (46.66) from 2021. Modglin was more than a second and a half behind in 49.05 after already winning the 100 back and placing 2nd in the 50 free earlier in the session.

Men’s 500 Free

• NCAA record: 4:06.32, Kieran Smith (2020)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 4:10.74

4 v. 4 Results:

1. Luke Hobson (TEX) – 4:27.33
2. Tanner Hering (UVA) – 4:28.01
3. Sam O’Brien (UVA) – 4:30.17
4. Alec Enyeart (TEX) – 4:30.73
5. Sasha Lyubavskiy (TEX) – 4:32.05
6. Manning Haskal (TEX) – 4:33.07
7. Peter Thompson (UVA) – 4:33.58
8. Zach Larrick (UVA) – 4:34.42

Reigning NCAA champion Luke Hobson held off Virginia senior Tanner Hering by less than a second in the 500 free en route to a win in 4:27.33. Hobson, a Texas junior, was about 20 seconds off his personal-best 4:07.37 from the NCAA Championships in March. Hering was only about seven seconds off his lifetime best of 4:20.95 from February.

Hobson and Hering were the only two swimmers under 4:30 as Virginia junior Sam O’Brien (4:30.17) took 3rd over Texas sophomore Alec Enyeart.

Women’s 200 Free Relay

• NCAA record: 1:23.87, Virginia (2023)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:28.43

1. Virginia – 1:26.85
2. Texas – 1:29.32

Jasmine Nocentini led off Virginia’s 200 free relay with a 21.89 and Gretchen Walsh anchored with a 20.78 split to close out the first day of action with a win in 1:26.85 against the Texas women, who were a couple seconds back in 1:29.32. Walsh has been as fast as 20.48 before, which ranks No. 6 on the list of top all-time performers.

Aimee Canny added a 22.32 split for the Cavaliers and Alex Walsh contributed a 21.86 split.

Men’s 200 Free Relay

• NCAA record: 1:13.35, Florida (2023)
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:16.80

1. Virginia – 1:20.39
2. Texas – 1:20.75

With the men’s team tied heading into the final relay, Virginia junior Connor Boyle led off the men’s 200 free relay with a 20.10 split to give the Cavaliers a .38-second lead they never relinquished en route to the overall meet win. Tim Connery followed in 20.06, Sebastien Sergile split 20.08, and Simon Lins anchored Virginia’s relay in 20.15 to hold off a late charge from Texas veterans Peter Paulus (20.01) and Luke Hobson (20.11).

The Longhorns finished just .36 seconds behind the Cavaliers in the end, with Nate Germonprez (20.48) and Camden Taylor (20.15) taking care of the front half of their relay.

Scores After Day 1:

Women: Virginia 113, Texas 75

Men: Virginia 99, Texas 89