Press Release Courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics: No. 14 Texas A&M Takes on No. 7 Longhorns
No. 14 Texas A&M takes on No. 7 Longhorns
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 14 Texas A&M women’s swimming and diving team will take on No. 7 Texas in a 4 p.m. dual meet on Thursday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on the University of Texas campus.
The Aggies …
Defending Southeastern Conference Champion Texas A&M has been impressive with early-season victories over Incarnate Word and South Carolina on its way to a 2-0 record. Last Friday against the Gamecocks, the Aggies swept all 14 swimming races with senior Sarah Gibson leading the way with victories in the 1,000-yard freestyle and the 100- and 200-yard butterfly and junior Lisa Bratton finishing first in the 100 backstroke and 500 free. Other Aggies grabbing solo victories were sophomore Claire Rasmus in the 200 free, junior Franko Jonker in the 100 breast, junior Kristin Malone in the 50 free, sophomore Lexie Lupton in the 100 free, junior Laura Norman in the 200 back, Sydney Pickrem in the 200 breast and junior Bethany Galat in the 200 IM.
The Longhorns …
Defending Big 12 Conference Champion Texas defeated host Indiana and Florida in both long course and short course competition last month. In the season opener on Oct. 21, Texas defeated Indiana 170-106 and Florida by a 186-90 count in long course format (50m pool). The Longhorns completed a weekend sweep the next day with short course (25-yard pool) victories over Indiana (168-108) and Florida (191-85). Texas won 27 of the 30 events contested through the two days of competition in Bloomington, Ind.
Last Five Meetings …
Year Location W/L, Score
2015-16 College Station L, 134-166
2014-15 Austin
2013-14 College Station W, 152-148
2011-12 Austin
2010-11 College Station L, 137-163
Last year in College Station …
The Aggies suffered their first dual meet loss in more than two seasons in last year’s meeting as the No. 14 Aggies dropped a 166-134 decision to the No. 6 Texas Longhorns at the Student Recreation Natatorium. The Aggies, who hadn’t lost a dual meet since January of 2013, had their streak of 11 straight home victories snapped, as well as an unbeaten streak of 26 consecutive dual matches.
The Aggies opened the meet with a strong victory in the 200-yard medley relay. The foursome of Lisa Bratton, Sycerika McMahon, Beryl Gastaldello and Lexie Lupton posted a winning time of 1:40.47. The Aggies’ lone double winner of the night was diver Madison Hudkins, who swept the one- and three-meter dives. Hudkins won the one-meter with a score of 322.27 and the three-meter with a 349.50 point total.
Other Aggies with top performances were Bethany Galat with a win in the 100 breast (1:01.31) and runner-up finishes in the 200 IM (1:59.69) and the 200 breast (2:11.51); Sarah Gibson with a win in the 500 free (4:47.75) and a second-place effort in the 1,000 free (9:51.58); and Gastaldello with a win in the 100 butterfly and second-place finishes in the 50 free (22.83) and 100 free (50.01). The Aggies closed out the meet with a second-place finish in the 400 free relay with the foursome of Meredith Oliver, Kristin Malone, Gibson and Lupton touching in a time of 3:21.49.
NCAA Top Times …
Texas A&M swimmers ranked in the top 25 nationally include:
Claire Rasmus 200 free 1:48.67 (#22)
Sarah Gibson 1,000 free 10:00.51 (#20)
Franko Jonker 100 breast 1:01.58 (#13)
Jorie Caneta 100 breast 1:01.64 (#14)
Sydney Pickrem 200 breast 2:13.51 (#13)
Esther Gonzalez 200 breast 2:14.30 (#19)
Bethany Galat 200 breast 2:14.88 (#21)
LIVE RESULTS:
Live results can be accessed on TexasSports.com or Meet Mobile. There will be no video stream of the competition.