Texas Butterfly Specialists Sam Artmann, Cole Crane Returning for Fifth Years

by Riley Overend 27

September 17th, 2023 College, News, SEC

The top two butterfly specialists at the University of Texas are returning for their fifth years of eligibility this season, according to the Longhorns’ current online roster.

Sam Artmann and Cole Crane will be back for the final collegiate campaign in 2023-24 after contributing to Texas’ 3rd-place finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships in March. Artmann scored individually in the 200-yard butterfly (personal-best 1:41.86 in prelims, 1:42.32 in final for 12th place) while Crane swam fly (45.33 split) on the Longhorns’ 400 medley relay team that placed 8th (3:03.00).

Individually, Crane placed 28th in the 100 fly (45.84) and 21st in the 200 fly (1:42.58). Artmann added a 32nd-place finish in the 100 fly (45.97).

At the 2023 Big 12 Championships, Artmann swept the 100 fly (46.18) and 200 fly (1:42.63) with Crane earning runner-up finishes right behind him in both events (46.59/1:43.25). The 2024 Big 12 Championships will be the last for Artmann, Crane, and Texas as a whole, which is joining the SEC next year.

Artmann’s Best SCY Times

  • 50 fly – 21.51
  • 100 fly – 45.97
  • 200 fly – 1:41.86

Crane’s Best SCY Times

  • 50 fly – 21.19
  • 100 fly – 45.61
  • 200 fly – 1:42.21

Over the summer, Crane placed 7th in the 100-meter fly at the TYR Pro Championships in late July with a 52.91, good for 7th place but about half a second off his best time of 52.33 from last summer. Artmann took 9th place in the 100 fly at the TYR Pro Championships with a personal-best 53.08.

Although Texas lost now-pro star Carson Foster over the offseason, the program gained a pair of high-profile recruits who could be immediate difference-makers as freshmen. No. 2 recruit Will Modglin will likely take over backstroke duties with his best-in-class 45.01 100 back, but he also owns a lifetime best of 46.35 in the 100 fly. No. 5 recruit Nate Germonprez is versatile with his best-in-class 1:42.82 200 IM, and he also boasts a 47.22 100 fly from February of 2022.

The Longhorns have yet to release their official for this upcoming season, but their first major dual meet will likely be against Virginia on Oct. 27-28.

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Jimbo
1 year ago

We didn’t even have to wait for the preseason outlook to get started arguing…

chazoozle
1 year ago

Does WVU have chance to win Big 12s this year with Carson going pro?

Admin
Reply to  chazoozle
1 year ago

No. Texas is still way ahead of those other teams in the Big 12. It’s not always obvious when you look at teams like Texas with superstars, but they have an unbelievable number of good swimmers. They can lose 6 or 8 NCAA qualifiers and still cruise to a Big 12 win.

West Virginia had 1 NCAA qualifier last year. Texas leaves more than that home from NCAAs recently.

So I mean, if Texas sends someone to Worlds instead of Big 12s, leaves a few guys home to focus on LCM or go to a Pro Swim instead, I guess it’s conceivable. But again…Texas had three guys in the 200 fly at Big 12s last year who weren’t on their… Read more »

chazoozle
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

I guess time will tell

Tom Dolan Fan
1 year ago

Charlie Crosby, who would be a sophomore, is not included on the roster. Did he transfer?

LMAO
Reply to  Tom Dolan Fan
1 year ago

Probably, kid can’t hack it in a D1 training environment

Chachi
Reply to  LMAO
1 year ago

More worried about Christmas training trips than swimming fast when it counts….

LMAO
Reply to  LMAO
1 year ago

Don’t shoot the messenger haha Just saying certainly D1 talent, but D3 work ethic

Chachi
Reply to  LMAO
1 year ago

Too many recent recruits act/train like it’s “mission accomplished” to be on the Texas team, rather than being willing to put in the hard work to keep the team in that 1-2 spot w/ Cal…

You don’t see that attitude w/ the Cal recruits.

Guys like Connery, Crosby, Charles, Vegas, Heasley, etc couldn’t transition from club stud to serious D-1 scorer. Doesn’t make them bad guys, but they didn’t develop like you would have hoped. Why? Ask them.

DrSwimPhil
Reply to  LMAO
1 year ago

“D3 work ethic”?

You apparently have no clue of the work ethic of MANY at that level

LMAO
Reply to  DrSwimPhil
1 year ago

Apologies, don’t mean that D3 athletes don’t work hard, but the demands are much less and it’s easier to skate by on your talent

Susanna Gibson
1 year ago

Hook ‘Em Horns!

Boxall's Railing
1 year ago

Anyone know why Texas is waiting so long to release their season schedule…again, this year?

Did not Cali UT
1 year ago

Giddy up!

Andrew
1 year ago

Texas fans trying to muster up scenarios where they can somehow finish in the top 3 despite having an Ohio State-esque roster has been pretty funny as of late

Jimbo
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

Hobson 40 individual points
Ohio state swimmers 32.5 individual points
Not really Ohio State-like

Andrew
Reply to  Jimbo
1 year ago

Hobson’s ceiling is 40 points since he doesn’t have a 3rd event.

Take away Foster x2, Johnston, Corbeau and Krueger and Texas has 67 individual points (40 from Hobson).

OSU will likely get around 35-45 swimming points this year but with much better diving and slightly worse relays than Texas

I think it’s fair to compare their 2 rosters for this year

Bobthebuilderrrocks
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

On what planet is a 41.99 100 free or a 14:40.1 mile not a potential third event?

Go back to hating on Cal, I like that better.

Jimbo
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

Better diving. Not much better.

Horninco
Reply to  Jimbo
1 year ago

Yeah his overall assessment is correct, Texas should not be viewed as a top 3 team right now. but Luke Hobson alone makes this team pretty good. His 100 Free will get better and he is a returning champ in 2 events.

Swammer
Reply to  Horninco
1 year ago

He should probably focus on the mile over the 100. His best case scenario pb in the 100 puts him in the middle of the B final, whereas he’d score top 8 in the mile with his old pb. Texas has so little sprint depth this year that they’d be better off with the 10+ individual points in the mile and a slower split on the 400 free relay than 1-9 points from his 100 free and a fast split on a relay that’s gonna place 8th or 9th

oxyswim
Reply to  Swammer
1 year ago

There’s no swimmers making an A final in the 200 FR and the 1650 anymore. You’d have to go really far back to find the last guy who did.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  oxyswim
1 year ago

Townley did his freshman year, but you’re right. The 200 is now an extended sprint. You have to be out in 43/44 to really compete in it. Milers can’t go out in 43/44 in the 200, so I’m curious when we’ll see the next swimmer final in both. Can Hafnaoui swim the 200?

Horninco
Reply to  Swammer
1 year ago

he’s better off swimming the 100 because after the mile he might have a tough time being effective on the relay

He can’t just pick up the 1650, have to trian.

Also interesting to assume he won’t get faster in the 100

Horninco
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

Nice try, we know a 5-6th finish is the likely outcome. Cal, ASU clear top 2 without any question.

Think NC State/Florida/Indiana are in the 3/4/5 mix and in that order

Texas would do well to get themselves in that 2nd tier. Depends on how well the freshmen adapt.

Texas has to rebuild. 2023 and 2024 classes will help but I’d like to see us get more active internationally and with the portal as well

Caleb
Reply to  Horninco
1 year ago

sounds about right although I don’t think ASU at #2 is a lock

Horninco
Reply to  Caleb
1 year ago

nothing is a lock but I think vegas odds would put them #2 if such a thing existed

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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