2020 BIG 12 SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- When: Wednesday, February 26th to Saturday, February 29th | Prelims 10:00 am | Finals 6:00 pm
- Where: Aquatic Center at Mylan Park, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (Eastern Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: University of Texas Men (40x), University of Texas Women (8x) – results
- Live Streaming Links: Thursday finals / Friday finals / Saturday finals
- Championship Central: Here
- Detailed Timeline: Here
- Psych Sheets: Here
- Live Results: Here
SCORES AFTER DAY 1 (**Will be updated at conclusion of session**)
WOMEN
- Texas – 370
- Kansas – 276
- West Virginia – 178
- TCU – 174
- Iowa State – 104
MEN
- Texas – 382
- West Virginia – 291
- Texas Christian – 228
Tonight we’ll see Texas, West Virginia, TCU, Kansas, and Iowa State face off for the first individual titles of the 2020 championships. Evie Pfeifer, runner-up from last year’s 500 free, comes into tonight with the top prelims time in the race. Pfeifer was 4:40.13 this morning, swimming slightly faster than the 4:40.60 in finals for 2nd last year.
JohnThomas Larson led the way in the men’s 500 this morning. Larson was 3rd in the event last year. Drew Kibler, who was 3rd this morning, has the top season best in the field, having been 4:11.19 this season. Matthew Willenbring (Texas) and Daniel Krueger (Texas) are both top seeds tonight as well, in the men’s 200 Im and 50 free respectively.
Texas freshman Kelly Pash was out well ahead of the field in the 200 IM this morning, swimming a 1:57.79. Pash has been 1:57.10 this season. Kansas had the next 2 top times this morning, with Kate Steward swimming a 1:59.99 for the only other sub-2:00 performance of the morning. Dannie Dilsaver was 2:00.02 this morning. Fellow Texas freshman Bridget Semenuk swam the fastest women’s 50 free this morning by half a second.
WOMEN’S 500 FREE – FINALS
- Big 12 Record: Joanna Evans (TEX) – 4:36.87
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:35.76
- 2019 NCAA Invite Time: 4:40.92
Podium:
- Evie Pfeifer (TEX) – 4:38.48
- Jenny Nusbaum (KAN) – 4:47.57
- Mary Smutny (TEX) – 4:49.01
Evie Pfeifer domianted the race from start to finish, coming into the wall a little over 2 seconds faster than she swam at this meet last year (4:40.60). She got out to a really quick start, flipping at the 200 mark in 1:49.20. Pfeifer has a personal best of 4:36.04, which she swam at last year’s NCAAs.
Kansas senior Jenny Nusbaum picked up the best finish of her career in the event at a Big 12 Champs, taking 2nd with a 4:47.57. Nusbaum was 5th last year with a 4:45.56, which also stands as her personal best.
Texas freshman Mary Smutny took 3rd to round out the podium, swimming a 4:49.01. Miranda Heckman, another Texas freshman, won the B final with a time of 4:47.59.
MEN’S 500 FREE – FINALS
- Big 12 Record: Townley Haas (TEX) – 4:08.19
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:11.82
- 2019 NCAA Invite Time: 4:16.04
- JohnThomas Larson (TEX) – 4:16.65
- Parker Neri (TEX) – 4:18.61
- Dusan Babic (TCU) – 4:23.26
JohnThomas Larson held on to his top seed from this morning, taking nearly 2 seconds off his prelims time of 4:18.34. Larson was 3rd in the event last year with a 4:15.62, and his personal best stands at 4:15.60 from the 2018 Big 12 Champs. Parker Neri came in 2nd tonight with a 4:18.61, bettering his time of 4:20.49 from last year’s Championships. Neri’s personal best is also from 2018 Big 12s – 4:15.40.
TCU picked up its first individual podium finish of the meet, with Dusan Babic swimming a personal best of 4:23.20. Babic, a freshman, had a lifetime best of 4:24.96 heading into the meet. TCU had an excellent performance as a team, outscoring West Virginia in the event 60 to 20. TCU still sits behind WVU in the team standings by 14 points.
Texas junior Sam Pomajevich came in 4th with a 4:23.57, coming in well off his personal best of 4:12.46. He swam a 4:26.64 at Big 12s last year. Texas’ Drew Kibler, Austin Katz, and Drew Kline scratched finals in the event tonight. Kibler has the fastest personal best in the field – 4:11.19. Austin Katz was scratched out of the meet tonight due to food poisoning, per Josh Davis.
WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINALS
- Big 12 Record: Madisyn Cox (TEX) – 1:52.58
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:53.66
- 2019 NCAA Invite Time: 1:56.79
Podium:
- Kelly Pash (TEX) – 1:55.91
- Kate Steward (KANS) – 1:59.78
- Dannie Dilsaver (KANS) – 2:00.26
Texas freshman Kelly Pash continued with her stellar freshman campaign, swimming a huge lifetime best to claim her first Big 12 title. Pash’s time of 1:55.91 comes in well under her personal best of 1:57.10, which she swam at the Minnesota Invite back in December. She swam an excellent race all-around, splitting 25.05 and 28.52 on the first 2 50s, for a 53.57 on the first 100. She was 34.47 on the breaststroke leg, and came home in a quick 27.87 on freestyle.
Kansas had a strong showing in the event, taking 2nd and 3rd. Kate Steward, a Kansas sophomore, improved on her 4th place finish from last year (2:00.33), clocking a 1:59.78. Steward was a little bit off her lifetime best of 1:59.28, which she swam a couple months ago. A breaststroker, Steward had the fastest breaststroke split in the field, coming in at 33.18. After trasferring to Kansas from Cal this season, Dannie Dilsaver came in 3rd in the event, clocking a 2:00.26.
Kansas outscored Texas 64-42 on the event, closing the gap between in the team standings down to 25 points.
MEN’S 200 IM – FINALS
- Big 12 Record: John Shebat (TEX) – 1:39.63
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:41.34
- 2019 NCAA Invite Time: 1:43.82
Podium:
- Matthew Willenbring (TEX) – 1:43.98
- Jake Foster (TEX) – 1:44.82
- Caspar Corbeau (TEX) – 1:45.43
Texas swept the podium for the first time this meet, with sophomore Matthew Willenbring leading the charge. Willenbring was off his personal best of 1:41.83, which he swam at the Minnesota Invite in December. 3rd place finisher Caspar Corbeau was the only swimmer in the field to split under 30 seconds on the breaststroke 5o, posting a 29.75 breast split.
West Virginia’s David Dixon swam a 1:45.57 for 4th place, coming home in a field-leading free split of 24.93. Five men’s events into the meet, Texas has opened up a 96 point lead in the team standings. WVU outscored TCU 53 points to 26 in the event, expanding their lead.
WOMEN’S 50 FREE – FINALS
- Grace Ariola/Rebecca Millard (TEX) – 21.73
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 21.66
- 2019 NCAA Invite Time: 22.24
Podium:
- Bridget Semenuk (TEX) – 22.33
- Kyla Leibel (TEX) – 22.83
- Julia Nilton (WVU) – 22.89
texas freshman Bridget Semenuk won her first Big 12 title by half a second, swimming her career 2nd fastest time of 22.33. Semenuk has been as fast as 22.23, which she swam at the 2019 Minnesota Invite. West Virginia picked up their first Podium finish of the night, with Julia Nilton clocking a 22.89 for 3rd. Nilton has a personal best of 22.38 from last year’s Big 12 Champs.
Another Texas freshman, Kyla Leibel, swam a 22.83 for 2nd, marking a lifetime best by .04 seconds. West Virginia also picked up a 4th place finsih with Emily Haimes, a freshman, clocking a 22.98.
MEN’S 50 FREE – FINALS
- Big 12 Record: Joe Schooling (TEX) – 18.76
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 18.96
- 2019 NCAA Invite Time: 19.38
Podium:
- Daniel Krueger (TEX) – 19.19
- Maxime Rooney (TEX) – 19.41
- Chris Staka (TEX) – 19.77
Texas’ men picked up another podium sweep, taking the top 3 spots. Sophomore Daniel Krueger swam a personal best by 0.01 seconds, taking the title with a 19.18. Krueger’s previous best of 19.19 came from last year’s NCAA Championships. Maxime Rooney finished runner-up in the race with a 19.41, coming in just off his personal and season best of 19.24, swum athe 2019 Minnesota Invite. Chris Staka was just off his personal best of 19.56 for 3rd, swimming a 19.77. Staka’s PR 19.56 was swum just a few weeks ago versus SMU.
West Virginia had a strong showing as a team, taking 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 14th, and 15th. Freshman Hunter Armstrong led the way for the Mountaineers, swimming a 19.78 to miss the podium by .01 seconds.Teammate Ryen Van Wyk was also under 20 seconds, swimming a 19.93 for 5th. WVU outscored Texas with their effort, tallying up 64 points to Texas’ 53.
WOMEN’S 1 METER DIVING – FINALS
Podium:
- Alison Gibson (TEX) – 323.35
- Jiayu Chen (KANS) – 311.35
- Paola Pineda (TEX) – 307.85
Alison Gibson continues to be a force for Texas diving, taking the 1 meter title by 12 points. Gibson won the title last year with a score of 349.10. Kansas freshman Jiayu Chen came in a close 2nd. Texas showed off their diving power, taking 1st, 3rd (Paola Pineda), 4th (Morgan Menninger), and 5th (Janie Boyle).
WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:31.66
- NCAA ‘Provisional’ Cut: 3:33.78
Podium:
- Texas – 3:31.40
- Kansas – 3:35.96
- TCU – 3:42.06
Texas picked up its 2nd NCAA ‘A’ cut of the season, taking the relay in 3:31.40. Senior Claire Adams was electric on the lead-off leg, swimming a lifetime best 100 back of 50.51. With the time, Adams picked up an NCAA ‘A’ cut in the 100 back, automatically qualifying her for NCAAs. The swim also broke the Texas School record, and Big 12 Confererence record, which were held by Texas alum Tasija Karosas at 50.83 from 2017.
Evie Pfeifer swam the breast leg on the relay, splitting 1:01.07. 200 IM champion Kelly Pash swam fly, splitting 51.73, and Julia Cook was the anchor, bringing it home in 48.09. Adams, Pash, and Cook led the field in theior respective strokes, while Kansas’ Kate Steward swam the fastest breast split in the field with a 59,73. Steward was the only swimmer in the field to split under 1:01 on breaststroke. Kansas improved significantly over last year, where they swam a 3:38.73 for 3rd. The Jayhawks enter Day 3 solidly in 2nd place: 94 points behind texas, and 98 points ahead of 3rd place West Virginia.
MEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:05.95
- NCAA ‘Provisional’ Cut: 3:07.74
Podium:
- Texas – 3:04.13
- West Virginia – 3:09.00
- TCU – 3:10.90
Texas won the relay by nearly 5 seconds, with their ‘B’ squad posting the 2nd fastest time in the field – 3:05.42. The Texas ‘C’ relay also clocked the 3rd fastest time in the field – 3:08.86. The ‘A’ squad was made up of Christ Staka (46.00), Charlie Scheinfeld (52.57), Alvin Jiang (44.27), and Daniel Krueger (41.29). The team broke the meet record of 3:04.57 with the swim, a record which was held by Texas from last year. Texas’ ‘A’ squad was not their fastest combination of swimmer tonight, however. ‘C’ relay lead-off Jason Park swam a 45.82, and ‘B’ breaststroker Caspar Corbeau split 51.68. Swapping Park for Staka, and Corbeau for Scheinfeld would have put the Texas ‘A’ relay at 3:03.06.
W
I have to say, I’m very disappointed in the lack of sportsmanship in this thread, as well as from some of the Tx swimmers. I get that Tx is the best, but come on…. swimming is supposed to be a civilized sport. We’ve been around swimming for close to 20 years and kids have always been supportive of each other, shown amazing sportsmanship, and talked with kids from other teams. It seems like…from this thread and what we witnessed from the Tx men’s team tonite, that it doesn’t work that way if “you’re Texas”. Coach Reese should be ashamed of his swimmers and his fan base that thinks it’s ok to bully and trash talk teams that aren’t as good…like… Read more »
Sportsmanship from people in this thread? I’m assuming that you mean comments about Texas being superior in the conference and the conference being a joke in general with so few teams? Nobody is trying to put down the other schools. It’s just a fact that it’s extremely bizarre that a #1 caliber college team is in a very small conference with schools not close to their caliber. It’s not an insult or bullying, those are the facts, and there will always be comments until something is done about the conference.
As far as the bad sportsmanship at the meet… you can’t post something like that without giving us the deets
Where are you getting this from?? I see more people trashing Texas… Swammer2007, Swimmer, SwimmerJ, Leisurely1:29, Canswim13, Samuel Huntington, Texas A&M Swim Fan. Tell me where Texas swimmers aren’t being “sportsman”? Where is a single Texas person trashing another fan base in the conference? What swimmer has been unsportsmanlike or what fan has mentioned anything negative about any other team. Sounds to me like your just passively aggressively trying to trash not only the Texas fan base but the whole team. I’m very disappointed in your lack of sportsmanship in trying to start something that frankly just isn’t there from the Texas team or their fan base.
I am also very disappointed in the Kansas Men’s Team. They are not talking to any other teams, and are showing no support to the other swimmers. Simply despicable.
I agree. And the Iowa State men’s team are basically a no-show. They will be lucky to tie lowly Baylor
“I have to say, I’m very disappointed in the lack of sportsmanship in this thread, as well as from some of the Tx swimmers. I get that Tx is the best, but come on…. swimming is supposed to be a civilized sport.”
Relax, Francis.
Preston Varozza 45.9 and Jason Park 45.8 on the B and C relay leadoffs. Just in case Staka, Harty, and Katz (and possibly Jiang and even Artmann) are all out of commission.
Josh Davis just made passing reference to Austin Katz having food poisoning 🤮 Hope that’s not a more widespread phenomenon.
Bad sushi.
It *is* West Virginia 😂
A 500 free will do that to ya.
Anyone know what’s going on with the Texas women? I know they’re always hot (almost too hot) at Big 12s, but this year just seems off. And flat. Hoping they turn it around!
I hope people are not paying to watch or see this meet.
I’m so confused as pash adams and pfeifer the only ones that will swim individually at ncaas?
I think Julia Cook might have a time good enough to qualify from mid season. But yeah at this point it looks like just those few ladies will swim individually.
Texas women have 4 in for sure. Yes Pash/Adams/Pfieffer/Cook for sure. Those four rock.
A couple maybe on bubble: Semenuk, possibly Case with a drop in 200fly. Will need to have an unexpected big drop from someone else, don’t think there is anybody within spittting distance of an invite time.
I wonder what’s going on with Grace Ariola…I hope she is ok. Last year her top time was 21.73
Carol
That’s a terrible thing to say.
Times at this meet……………..
Texas B+ squad not rested