The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championships
No. 9 Women's Swimming and Diving wins 11th Big 12 Conference title
03.02.2013 | Women's Swimming and Diving
March 2, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas -
No. 9 Texas notched five victories and cruised through the final session on its way to its 11th Big 12 crown Saturday evening at the Big 12 Championships.Texas won its 11th Big 12 Conference title and first in two seasons with 1,051 points. West Virginia placed second with 576 points, and TCU took third with 574 points. Kansas took fourth place with 540.5 points, and Iowa State placed fifth with 486.5 points.
Head coach Carol Capitani was selected as the Women's Swimming Coach of the Meet, while Matt Scoggin was named as the Women's Diving Coach of the Meet. Meghan Houston and Maren Taylor shared the honor of Women's Diver of the Meet.
Junior Sarah Denninghoff led off the evening by taking the 200-yard backstroke in 1 minute, 53.21 seconds, good for the fourth-fastest time in UT history. Denninghoff just missed the NCAA "A" cut of 1:53.17 but captured her second Big 12 crown in as many nights. Senior Jessica Guro placed third in 1:57.34, and junior Lily Moldenhauer placed sixth in 1:59.05. Junior Victoria Cassidy placed eighth in 2:00.49.
Senior Laura Sogar nearly took down her school mark in the 200-yard breaststroke, but her winning time of 2:05.25 was good for a Big 12 Championship record and the second-fastest time in school history. Sophomore Gretchen Jaques was the runner- up in 2:11.47, and sophomore Skylar Smith placed third in 2:12.75.
Junior Samantha Tucker scored her first career Big 12 conference title and claimed the 100 freestyle in 48.99. Junior Alex Hooper placed second in 49.21, while junior Ellen Lobb placed third in 49.32. Senior Kelsey Amundsen took fifth in 49.80.
Senior diver Shelby Cullinan claimed her first career conference title and won the platform diving event with 294.95 points. Senior Diana Wilcox placed second overall with 273.10 points, and freshman Kristina Hoffmann placed third with 262.65 points.
Texas posted a meet-closing victory in the 400 freestyle relay, as Hooper, Tucker, Lobb and Denninghoff finished in an NCAA automatic-qualifying mark of 3:15.83.
Junior Kelsey LeNeave paced the Horns in the 1,650 freestyle and placed second in 16:14.36, good for a NCAA "B" cut. Sophomore Kaitlin Pawlowicz took third in 16:20.44. Junior Marilyn Toledo placed fifth in the 200 butterfly consolation final in 2:05.68.
Texas hosts a NCAA last-chance qualifying meet on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. Central. The UT divers begin competition in the NCAA Zone Diving Meet on Monday, March 11 in Houston.
POST-MEET COMMENTS
Texas head coach Carol Capitani
On winning the Big 12 Championship in her first season at Texas: It feels great.
We have a great group of girls. I know it looked like we ran away with it, but we did
have some good competition and some races where we competed against ourselves.
West Virginia had some great kids. I'm happy we raced hard and came through
every night.
On whether any performances surprised her this weekend: I think there was something almost every day that surprised me. I think they're all doing a really nice job getting of close to their best times. Most of our NCAA girls are just a little bit rested, so I think they're a little tired but they still raced tight. The divers did great. Our relays were good. It was a good meet.
On senior Laura Sogar's 200 breaststroke: That was a nice swim tonight. It's almost her best time, but it was the best she's ever split it. So I'm really proud of that. She's really proud of that.
On her team's mentality heading into the NCAA Championships: I think they're excited. They're excited to race some people and do what they can do under pressure. We're looking to have some great relays and some standout performances individually. It's time.
On whether the Big 12 meet helps her team prepare for NCAAs: I think it does and it doesn't. I do like the fact that they've got to manufacture a little emotion and learn how to swim fast when there's no one around, especially in the mornings. But we didn't have to go to the well, emotionally, this meet.
Senior swimmer Laura Sogar
On preparing for the NCAA Championships: I am really excited to get a little more
rest. We did a little bit of a drop-taper for this meet, so we rested for about a week. I
didn't know what to expect coming in this week. I am really happy that I ended with
one of my best times. Hopefully, with a little more rest and a little more time in the
weight room, I will be able to get stronger.
On setting the Big 12 meet record in the 200 breaststroke: It is really exciting. This is my last race at this pool. I am happy to get the record and end on a really good note.
On head coach Carol Capitani: It has been really wonderful having her. She is a really good role model and a really good coach. She is a great person. It is a lot of fun to have her on deck everyday. She is a calming influence and has been awesome.
