2025 EDDIE REESE SHOWDOWN
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- January 24-25, 2025
- Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center — Austin, Texas
- 25 Yards (SCY)
- Meet Info
- Live Results, also available on MeetMobile as “Eddie Reese Texas Showdown”
- Friday Morning Live Recap | Friday Night Live Recap
Note: due to logistical complications regarding two teams, Saturday morning’s start time has been delayed to 10:30am CST.
The inaugural Eddie Reese Showdown, a battle between four of the top programs in the NCAA, has been as exciting as promised. Last night, over 2,300 fans packed into the Texas Swimming Center for the Texas band, Bevo XV, and some great swimming, including a new American Record in the 400 medley relay.
The action continues this morning with the typical Day 4 events from the NCAA Championships format: 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 1650 free, and the 400 free relay.
Unfortunately, there’s no livestream this morning, but we’ll be providing a live recap as results roll in, and our own Coleman Hodges is on deck to grab race videos and interview swimmers throughout the session. The scoring is a little funky, with each session and the overall meet being scored differently, but according to the live results page, here are the combined team scores so far:
- Texas – 715
- Arizona State – 620.5
- Virginia – 583.5
- NC State – 556
Women’s 200 Back
- NCAA Record: 1:46.87, Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 2024
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:50.50
Top 8:
- Claire Curzan (UVA) – 1:49.97
- Leah Shackley (NC State) – 1:50.88
- Katie Grimes (UVA) – 1:51.55
- Kennedy Noble (NC State) – 1:51.86
- Lillie Nesty (Texsa) – 1:54.10
- Cambell Stoll (Texas) – 1:54.37
- Jordan Greber (ASU) – 1:57.46
- Charli Brown (ASU) – 1:57.53
NC State’s Leah Shackley narrowly led after the first 50, but NCAA Record-holder Claire Curzan moved past her on the next lap and maintained the lead to touch in 1:49.97. That’s three seconds off of her all-time mark of 1:46.87 from a few months, but was still more than enough to win comfortably.
Shackley took 2nd in 1:50.88. However, teammate Erika Pelaez won the B-final with a time of 1:50.81, which would’ve put her 2nd in the A-final. Shackley ranks 5th in the country this season with a 1:49.71, while Pelaez ranks 9th with a 1:50.64.
Men’s 200 Back
- NCAA Record: 1:35.37, Destin Lasco (Cal) – 2024
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:38.80
Top 8:
- Hubert Kos (Texas) – 1:38.91
- Oleksandr Zheltiakov (NC State) – 1:40.66
- David King (UVA) – 1:41.28
- Will Modglin (Texas) – 1:41.80
- Jack Wadsworth (ASU) – 1:43.58
- Jack Aikins (UVA) – 1:43.63
- Kyle Ponsler (NC State) – 1:44.64
- Lucien Vergnes (ASU) – 1:44.7
Texas’ Hubert Kos took the win by the better part of two seconds. Oleksandr Zheltiakov made something of a surprise debut for NC State, and took 2nd with a 1:40.66. A Ukrainian national, Zheltiakov won gold in the 200 back at last year’s European Championships and was the Male Swimmer of the Championships at the 2023 World Junior Championships.
Longhorn freshman Kyle Peck continues his strong meet with a 1:39.36 to win the B-final. Teammate Rex Maurer took 2nd in the B-final with a 1:40.59. Both Longhorns were faster than the 2nd place time in the A-final.
Women’s 100 Free
- NCAA Record: 44.83, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 47.10
Top 8:
- Gretchen Walsh (UVA) – 45.68
- Anna Moesch (UVA) – 47.63
- Caroline Bentz (ASU) – 48.27
- Olivia Nel (NC State) – 48.45
- Grace Cooper (Texas) – 48.47
- Lily Christianson (NC State) – 48.63
- Ava Longi (Texas) – 49.07
- Erin Milligan (ASU) – 49.33
Gretchen Walsh continues to throw down improbably fast times seemingly whenever she wants. Her winning time of 45.68 is the #6 performance ever, and appears to be the fastest in-season time ever. It also broke the pool record of 46.26 set by Mallory Comerford back in 2019.
Teammate Anna Moesch took 2nd in 47.63, a little less than a second shy of her personal best of 46.76. ASU’s Caroline Bentz touched 3rd in the A-final with a 48.27, just off her best of 48.16. But once again, we had some fast swims in the B-final as well : Texas’ Erin Gemmell won the heat with a 48.22, while UVA’s Maxine Parker took 2nd in 48.27.
Men’s 100 Free
- NCAA Record: 39.90, Caeleb Dressel (Florida) – 2018
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 41.34
Top 8:
- Jonny Kulow (ASU) – 41.11
- Chris Guiliano (Texas) – 41.72
- Kaii Winkler (NC State) – 42.09
- Patrick Sammon (ASU) 42.10
- Jerry Fox (NC State) – 42.57
- Luke Hobson (Texas) – 42.72
- Sebastien Sergile (UVA) – 43.50
- Connor Boyle (UVA) – 43.68
ASU’s Jonny Kulow followed up his 40.4 anchor leg from last night with a 41.11 performance this morning. Kulow and Texas transfer Chris Guiliano were the only two men to hit the halfway point in under 20 seconds, but Kulow extended his lead on the back half, as Guiliano touched in 41.72.
Kulow currently ranks 3rd in the nation with a 40.97 from midseason, while Guiliano moves up to 8th.
Women’s 200 Breast
- NCAA Record: 2:01.29, Kate Douglass (Virginia) – 2023
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:05.73
Top 8:
- Emma Weber (UVA) – 2:06.97
- Piper Enge (Texas) – 2:07.90
- Lisa Nystrand (NC State) – 2:08.42
- Aimee Canny (UVA) – 2:08.77
- Abby Arens (Texas) – 2:08.88
- Emma Gehlert (ASU) – 2:10.96
- Zoe Summar (ASU) – 2:11.71
- Aubree Brouwer (NC State) – 2:12.15
US Olympian Emma Weber of UVA went under 2:07 for the first time in her career en route to the win. Weber was tied for 3rd at the halfway point, but put together a pair of sub-33 splits over the last two laps to surge ahead and take the win. That time moves her to $3 in the nation this season.
Texas’ Piper Enge was one of the swimmers who got passed by Weber on the back half, but she still had a strong swim, clocking a 2:07.90 that marks her first time under 2:08. Likewise, NC State’s Lisa Nystrand knocked half a second off of her lifetime best wth a 2:08.42 for 3rd.
Men’s 200 Breast
- NCAA Record: 1:46.35, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2024
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:50.65
Top 8:
- Andy Dobrzanski (ASU) – 1:53.11
- Will Scholtz (Texas) – 1:53.42
- Nate Germonprez (Texas) – 1:54.49
- Cale Martter (ASU) – 1:56.65
- Arsen Kozhakhmetov (NC State) – 1:56.80
- Will Heck (NC State) – 1:59.16
- Matthew Heilman (UVA) – 1:59.73
- Matt Styczen (UVA) – 2:01.94
ASU’s Andy Dobrzanski tailed Longhorns Will Scholtz and Nate Germonprez with a lap to go, but the Sun Devil split a 29.12 to Scholt’z 29.60 and Germonprez’s 30.65 on the final lap, getting his hands on the wall first with a 1:53.11. That’s a season-best time for Dobrzanski and just a bit off of his lifetime best of 1:52.98.
Scholtz and Germonprez touched in 1:53.42 and 1:54.49, respectively. They rank 8th and 13th nationally this season with their times from midseason.
Women’s 200 Fly
- NCAA Record: 1:49.16, Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:52.47
Top 8:
- Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 1:49.87
- Alex Walsh (UVA) – 1:52.11
- Olivia Bray (Texas) – 1:53.70
- Katie Grimes (UVA) – 1:54.39
- Leah Shackley (NC State) – 1:56.38
- Caroline Sheble (NC State) – 1:57.14
- Sonia Vaishanni (ASU) – 1:57.82
- Julia Ullmann (ASU) – 1:58.86
Emma Sticklen‘s no slouch at this event — she’s the defending NCAA champion, leads the NCAA this season with a 1:49.54, and is the #4 performer all-time in the event. But it may still have been something of a surprise to see her beat Alex Walsh, the NCAA record holder, by over two seconds today.
Sticklen went out fast, hitting the halfway point in under 52 seconds, and also had the fastest 50s on the back half of the race, en route to touching in 1:49.87.
Walsh held 2nd place throughout the entire race, ultimately finishing in 1:52.11. Longhorn Olivia Bray took 3rd in 1:53.70, followed by UVA’s Katie Grimes at 1:54.39.
Men’s 200 Fly
- NCAA Record: 1:37.35, Jack Conger (Texas) – 2017
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:40.05
Top 8:
- Ilya Kharun (ASU) – 1:39.18
- Ryan Branon (Texas) – 1:42.51
- Logan Walker (Texas) – 1:43.43
- Filip Senc-Samardzic (ASU) – 1:44.28
- Charlie Bufton (NC State) – 1:45.14
- Matthew Marsteiner (NC State) – 1:45.88
- Spencer Nicholas (UVA) – 1:45.89
- Colin Bitz (UVA) – 1:47.80
A lot of swim fans seem to think it’s a matter when, not if, Ilya Kharun will break the all-time mark in the 200 fly. It may still happen, but it lives for another day.
Kharun didn’t seriously threaten the record, but his time of 1:39.18 was less than half a second off his NCAA-leading 1:38.74 from midseason, and he won by over three seconds.
Longhorns Ryan Branon (1:42.51) and Logan Walker (1:43.43) took 2nd and 3rd, while teammate Cooper Lucas clocked a 1:43.42 in the first heat that would’ve put him just past Walker in the A-final.
WOMEN’S 1650 FREE
- NCAA Record: 15:03.31, Katie Ledecky (Stanford) – 2017
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 15:52.41
Top 8:
- Jillian Cox (Texas) – 15.41.49
- Kate Hurst (Texas) – 15:51.64
- Deniz Ertan (ASU) – 16:02.35
- Chase Travis (NC State) – 16:02.74
- Cavan Gormsen (UVA) – 16:02.97
- Sophia Knapp (UVA) – 16:11.02
- Alexa Reyna (ASU) – 16:16.35
- Emma Hastings (NC State) – 16:18.48
Longhorn Jillian Cox has been the faster woman in this event this season, and she dominated today to win by over ten seconds with a 15:41.49. Someone else with that time would rank 3rd in the nation, while Cox leads the rankings with a 15:34.66.
Teammate Kate Hurst took 2nd with a 15:51.64. She ranks 4th nationally with a 15:48.78 from midseason. ASU’s Deniz Ertan (16:02.74) moves to #13 nationally after beating Chase Travis (16:02.72) and Cavan Gormsen (16:02.97) in a tight race for 3rd.
Men’s 1650 Free
- NCAA Record: 14:12.08, Bobby Finke (Florida) – 2020
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 14:37.31
Top 8:
- David Johnston (Texas) – 14:36.68
- Lance Norris (NC State) – 14:39.42
- Jackson Huckabay (Texas) – 14:46.77
- Owen Lloyd (NC State) – 14:48.14
- Daniel Matheson (ASU) – 14:51.05
- Reece Grady (ASU) – 15:01.56
- Sam O’Brien (UVA) – 15:29.78
- Dillon Wright (UVA) – 15:36.62
This race featured swimmers who owned four of the top eight times in the country this season, and they were largely close to their midseason times.
The win went to Longhorn David Johnston, whose 14:36.68 today was barely a second off his 14:35.42 from November, which ranks #3 in the nation.
NC State’s Owen Lloyd and Lance Norris ranked 4th and 6th, respectively, heading into today. Norris had the faster swim today, clocking a 14:39.42 for 2nsd, while Lloyd went 14:48.14 for 4th.
ASU’s Daniel Matheson, #8 nationally this season, went 14:51.05 for 5th.
Texas’ Jackson Huckabay had a bit swim, improving his lifetime best from 14:54.28 to 14:46.77. That should safely guarantee him his first NCAA invite.
Pros Races
- Regan Smith, 100 fly – 49.92
- Simone Manuel, 100 fly – 51.57
- Shaine Casas, 100 fly – 44.44
- Carson Foster, 200 free – 1:32.96
Four Longhorn professional swimmers hopped into the pool for some exhibition races, with three of those four swimming a 100 fly. Regan Smith nearly matched her lifetime best of 49.87, going 49.92. Simone Manuel actually swam a lifetime best with a 51.57. Her previous best a 53.12 from back in 2014. Shaine Casas was nearly half a second under his lifetime best of 44.91, swimming a 44.44 today. Carson Foster went 1:32.96, shy of his best of 1:32.29, although his 800 free relay splits as a college swimmer indicate that he should be sub-1:32 or sub-1:31 when primed.
Women’s 400 Free Relay
- NCAA Record: 3:05.84, Virginia – 2024
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:13.74
Top 8:
- UVA ‘A’ – 3:08.90
- Texas ‘A’ – 3:11.03
- NC State ‘A’ – 3:11.83
- Virginia ‘B’ – 3:14.77
- ASU ‘A’ – 3:15.07
- Texas ‘B’ – 3:15.92
- NC State ‘B’ – 3:16.12
- ASU ‘B’ – 3:19.84
No surprises here, as the Virginia women cruised to a 3:08.90 victory. Claire Curzan led off in 47.52, Gretchen Walsh split 45.87, the fastest in the field by roughly a second and a half, Alex Walsh split 47.86, and Anna Moesch anchored in 47.65.
The Cavaliers lead the nation with a 3:06.93 from the Tennesee Invite. The Longhorns have the #2 time this season with a 3:10.22, and they were within a second of that time with a 3:11.03. NC State, meanwhile, hit a season-best with a 3:11.83, improving on their 3:12.66 from the Wolfpack Invite.
Men’s 400 Free Relay
- NCAA Record: 2:43.40, Arizona St. – 2024
- 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:49.79
Top 8:
- ASU ‘A’ – 2:45.13
- NC State ‘A’ – 2:48.51
- Texas ‘A’ – 2:49.04
- ASU ‘B’ – 2:49.81
- Texas ‘B’ – 2:51.11
- NC State ‘B’ – 2:53.04
- UVA ‘A’ – 2:54.90
- UVA ‘B’ – 2:57.49
The Sun Devil men were already #2 nationally this season with a 3:46.58, but they improved on that time with a 2:45.13 today.
Ilya Kharun improved his 100 free lifetime best by half a second with a 41.03 leadoff. Tommy Palmer split 42.00, Patrick Sammon split 41.55, and Jonny Kulow recorded his second sub-41 split in as many days with a 40.55. No other school had more than one sub-42 leg. The Sun Devils narrowly missed the pool record of 2:45.12 that the Longhorns set here in 2019.
NC State took 2nd with a 2:48.51, highlighted by Jerry Fox‘s 41.75 anchor leg. The Texas ‘A’ relay touched 3rd in 2:49.04, but they would’ve moved ahead of NC State had Kyle Peck and his 41.73 been on the ‘A’ relay instead of the ‘B’ relay.
Finals Scores
The meet info indicated that each session would be scored using championship-style scoring, and that it’d be scored in a triple dual format across the three sessions.
Here’s the combined team scores for this session:
- Texas – 543
- Arizona State – 472
- Virginia – 462
- NC State – 448
And here are the final dual meet scores:
Women
- Virginia 199, Texas 153
- Virginia 234.5, NC State 117.5
- Texas 237, NC State 115
- Virginia 250, Arizona State 102
- Texas 258, Arizona State 94
- NC State 213, Arizona State 139
Men
- Texas 272, Virginia 80
- NC State 226, Virginia 125
- Texas 244.5, NC State 107.5
- Arizona State 242, Virginia 110
- Texas 193, Arizona State 159
- Arizona State 220.5, NC State 131.5
The leadoff on the ASU ‘B’ in the Men’s 4×100 Free was also worthy of note. Freshman Quin Seider was :42.28 flat start, dropping his flat PB from :42.95. The 4th time on the ‘A’ was Tommy Palmer’s :42.00R. Palmer’s relay PB is :41.96.
Palmer had three flat start PBs at :18.99 50 free/:42.20 100 free and :45.57 100 Fly.
Seider also had three flat start PBs at :19.35 R-LO 50 Free, :42.28 R-LO 100 Free and 1:33.75 200 Free.
With Kharun (:41.03 R-LO), Kulow (:40.42 R / :40.97 flat) and Sammon (:40.94 R /:41.77 flat) leading the way, it looks like Coach Herbie will be faced with a tough decision on the 4th spot between transfer Palmer and .08… Read more »
Decisions! Decisions!
T. Huske needs to choose between the W 50 FR and the W 200 IM on Day 2 of the 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.
Meanwhile, C. Curzan needs to choose between the W 50 FR on Day 2 and the W 100 FL on Day 3 of the 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.
Over the course of three days, I certainly hope the athletes will swim heats in the morning and finals in the evening at the Cavalier Invitational. None of this preordained bull crap.
Pretty sure 30% of this entire thread is nonsense from relay names guy. Completely obsessed with UVA.
Gotta say, pretty impressive photo of Kulow at the start of article.
Upon reviewing the men’s scoring, the University of Virginia men’s swimming team is hopeless.
It’s high time for SwimSwam to seriously reasses its men’s rankings.
UVA men’s team….. didn’t they set american records in free relays – 4 years ago? Shouldn’t this be a good year considering that group was young
They either regressed, transferred, or graduated
The University of Virginia women’s swimming program could use a breakout performance at the Cavalier Invitational analogous to the breakout performance from E. Weber in the breaststroke events (100 BR, 200 BR):
Gormsen, C.
Howley, T.
Novelline, C. (100 FL, 200 FL)
Skirboll, Z. (100 BR, 200 BR)
At last count, seventeen (17) female swimmers participated for the University of Virginia. The glaring omissions were A. Keating (11 points – 2024 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships) and Reilly Tiltmann (12 points – 2024 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships).