The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Florida
Men's Swimming and Diving tops Florida, Indiana in season opener
10.16.2015 | Men's Swimming and Diving
NCAA champions Clark Smith and Will Licon post two wins apiece in victories over the Hoosiers and Gators.
AUSTIN, Texas – Defending NCAA champion Texas picked up two wins apiece from national champions Will Licon and Clark Smith and used its considerable depth to push past Florida and Indiana in UT's season opener Friday evening at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
Texas notched a 201-98 win over Indiana and a 179-121 win over Florida. The Gators dealt the Hoosiers a 157-143 defeat in the remaining meet.
Day one of the two-day contest featured long-course swimming at the 50-meter distance more commonly seen at international and U.S. national meets. Texas opened the meet with a convincing win in the 200-meter medley relay, where junior Jack Conger, Licon, sophomore Joseph Schooling and freshman John Murray were victorious in 1 minute, 41.93 seconds.
Smith, the 2015 NCAA champion in the 500-yard freestyle, took on Florida distance star Arthur Frayler and picked up a win in the 800m freestyle at 8:13.16. Senior Sam Lewis took third in 8:17.06.
Licon, the 2015 NCAA champion in the 200-yard breaststroke and the 400-yard individual medley, led all competitors in the 100 breaststroke and won in 1:03.41.
Conger returned to lead a one-two finish in the 200 butterfly and took the win in 2:01.01. Senior John Martens followed in second at 2:02.68. Licon recorded an impressive double and notched another win Friday evening, as he claimed the 200 breaststroke in 2:20.76.
Texas collected significant points from its divers who swept the one- and three-meter springboards. Redshirt junior Sean O'Brien captured the one-meter event with 356.10 points while All-America senior Cory Bowersox took second at 346.50. Bowersox edged Indiana's Joshua Arndt for the three-meter win with 401.95 points.
Smith put the finishing touches on a workmanlike evening with another decisive victory, as he claimed the 400 freestyle at 3:55.11. Freshman Townley Haas followed closely behind in second at 3:58.01.
The Horns capped the meet Friday by pulling away from Florida to win the 200 freestyle relay. Sophomore Brett Ringgold joined senior John Murray, Conger and sophomore Joseph Schooling to claim the win at 1:32.10.
Texas, Florida and Indiana get together once again Saturday at 10 a.m. in the traditional 25-yard short course format.
Players Mentioned
