The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Sam Kendricks Dust Off Your Boots Classic
Newcomers shine for No. 1 Men’s Swimming and Diving at Sam Kendricks Dust Off Your Boots Invitational
09.25.2026 | Men's Swimming and Diving
Kim earns pair of individual victories in Friday’s season-opening meet.
AUSTIN, Texas — Freshman Laon Kim won a pair of individual events to highlight Friday's action in The University of Texas Men's Swimming and Diving Sam Kendricks Dust Off Your Boots Invitational at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. This meet marked the first official competition of the 2026-27 season for the No. 1 Longhorns.
Kim claimed wins in the 200 free (1:35.01) and the 100 free (43.44) and swam the anchor leg on the winning 400 free relay. Sophomore transfer Luka Mladenovic had a strong showing with a victory in the 200 breast (1:57.82) and second-place finishes in the 100 breast (53.38) and 200 IM (1:47.17).
Senior Rex Maurer posted a pair of individual event wins in the 1000 free (9:03.14) and the 500 free (4:22.16) and swam the second leg of the winning 400 free relay.
The Longhorns return to the pool on Friday, Oct. 9, when they travel to Bloomington, Ind., to compete in a tri-meet against Northwestern and host Indiana.
Meet Highlights
- The professional quartet of Hubert Kos, Jack Kelly, Tyler Ray and Chris Guiliano won the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:24.35. The Texas 'A' quartet of senior Will Modglin, sophomore Luka Mladenovic, freshman Rowan Cox and sophomore Rafael Fente-Damers took second in 1:25.80.
- Rex Maurer claimed victory in the 1000 free (9:03.14).
- Freshman Laon Kim won the 200 free (1:35.01), topping Olympians and current professionals Chris Guiliano (1:35.58) and Luke Hobson (1:36.74).
- Professional Jack Wilkening claimed victory in the 100 back (46.75), and Modglin placed third (47.95).
- Sophomore Campbell McKean won the 100 breast (53.20), while Mladenovic took second (53.38).
- Professional Tyler Ray claimed victory in the 200 fly (1:42.48), and junior Cooper Lucas placed third (1:45.20).
- Professional Chris Guiliano won the 50 free (19.85), while Fente-Damers took second (20.08).
- Kim claimed victory in the 100 free (43.44) and Fente-Damers placed second (43.79).
- Kos won the 200 back (1:43.76), while Modglin took third (1:49.91).
- Mladenovic claimed victory in the 200 breast (1:57.82), and McKean placed second (1:57.88).
- Maurer won the 500 free (4:22.16).
- Ray claimed victory in the 100 fly (46.04), while Cox finished second (48.33) and Kim took third (48.66).
- Kos won the 200 IM (1:44.54), and Mladenovic took second (1:47.17).
- The Texas 'A' quartet of Fente-Damers, Maurer, Modglin and Kim claimed victory in the 400 free relay in a time of 2:53.44. That group topped the foursome of professionals Hobson, Wilkening, Ray and Jack Aikins who finished second (2:54.52).
- In intrasquad diving action, junior Jacob Jones won the 1-meter (368.63), while freshman Matej Nevescanin claimed victory in the 3-meter (394.13).
