Four straight days of swimming, record breaking, diving and competition ended in success for Texas’ men’s swimming and diving.
Following their Southeastern Conference victory in February, the Longhorns won their 17th NCAA championship, going back-to-back after last year’s win.
From March 25 through 28, the team competed in Atlanta, breaking two American records, multiple program records and receiving 12 All-American awards.
Although mostly individual events, Texas shone in the relays, proving their teamwork and team culture. Junior swimming captain Rex Maurer played the starring role during the 800-yard relays alongside freshman Rafael Fente-Damers, junior Camden Tayler and senior Baylor Nelson. With a time of 6:05.82, Maurer brought the quad from fifth to first.
“(I hope we’ll see) consistency and swimming fast in the morning,” head coach Bob Bowman told ESPN. “Because that’s what matters here.”
In his second year at Texas, Bowman took the team to victory with a perfect streak after winning in 2024 at Arizona. However, Bowman was far from the leader as both Maurer and senior Hubert Kós shattered records.
The Longhorns started in third place with 72 points. The team rose to first on day two with 215.5 points due to Maurer’s win in the 400-yard IM, staying ahead the entire race, despite being a weak breaststroke, breaking the nine-year-old American record.
The same day, Kós took second in the 100-yard butterfly with 42.97, breaking another nine-year record but this time for Texas. Nelson, who swam alongside Maurer, won second in the 400 IM, further proving the Longhorns’ dominance.
“The Texas team culture is really tight knit, and to do one-two … again and to keep the 4 IM in Bob’s timeline, one of his swimmers has held the 4 IM for 20 plus years, so to continue that legacy as well is really important, ” Maurer said.
Although earning the most points, day two showcased all of the Longhorns’ star talents with Fente-Damers, and sophomores Garrett Gould and Kyle Peck helping Kós place fourth in the 200-yard IM relay.
Freshman Campbell McKean and junior Nate Germonprez placed second and third, respectively, in the 100-yard breaststroke and sophomore diver Jacob Jones received an All-American honorable mention for the 1-meter springboard.
Keeping their win day three with 340.5 points, Kós set the NCAA, U.S Open, meet and program record for the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 42.6 seconds.
Kós also broke the same records in the 200-yard back the next day, which happened to coincide with his 23rd birthday. His 1:34.13 mark made him a back-to-back national champion in both events. The 200 also marked Kós’ last event with Texas, an emotional and successful end to his college career.
“I’ve been training all year for this,” Kós told ESPN. “We were ready coming into this. It’s been a long ride these four years in the NCAA. I’m really grateful that I was able to be a part of it … it’s been a good trip and a lot to finish it with Texas.”
Texas left Atlanta as champions, finishing day four with a score of 445.5, 29.5 points ahead of second-place Florida.
