Jan. 12, 2012
AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 2-ranked Texas men's swimming and diving team handed the seventh-ranked Auburn Tigers their first loss of the dual-meet season, taking a 161-131 decision Thursday night at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center.
Auburn fell to 3-1 on the season while Texas improved to 4-1. It was the Longhorns' fifth win in their last six meetings with the Tigers. The meet also marked the final home competition for Auburn's four seniors - Adam Godzinski, Karl Krug, Drew Modrov and Max Murphy.
"They were tough," Auburn head coach Brett Hawke said. "We knew how good they were coming in, and I think they performed up to our expectations. We lost some close races today, which hurts, but for the most part I think the guys raced pretty tough, considering the work we've been doing lately."
Junior Kyle Owens contributed three of the Tigers' four wins on the day, while the 200 freestyle relay team provided another victory. Texas lived up to its No. 2 national ranking, earning wins in the other 12 events.
Owens got the first Tiger win of the day in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 47.97. He then came back after the break with another triumph in the 200 back, clocking a 1:46.33. Murphy was third in both events with a 48.61 in the 100 and a 1:47.24 in the 200.
The third victory for Owens came in the 200 IM where he posted a 1:48.48 to outpace Texas' Austin Surhoff. Freshman Kevin Behrens took second-place points with a 1:53.69, and Allen Browning recorded a 1:54.97.
"Kyle Owens was probably the standout performance of the day," Hawke said. "He's just kind of that inspirational leader in the water that we need. He knows how to get it done. Great under pressure, good in close races. You always need a guy like that on your team."
The Tigers closed out the meet with a win in the 200 freestyle relay as the team of Modrov, James Disney-May, TJ Leon and Krug went 1:19.32, less than a second shy of their best time of the year. Three of Auburn's four swimmers split a sub-20; Modrov's leadoff leg from a flat start was the best of the race at 20.23.
Sophomore Zane Grothe had an outstanding performance in the 1000 freestyle, earning third place in an extremely tight race with a season-beat 9:01.75, just half a second behind Texas' Jackson Wilcox and .18 back of the Longhorns' Michael McBroom. It was the fastest dual-meet time of his career in the event and shaved almost nine seconds off his previous best this season.
"Zane had a great 1000, that was a really strong swim," Hawke said. "We just want him to be able to compete in that top (1650) final at NCAAs. That's where we want him to be, and he's putting himself in position for that."
The opening 200 medley relay was a closely contested affair as Owens, Stuart Ferguson, Marcelo Chierighini and Modrov clocked a 1:28.04, Auburn's second-best time of the season, but fell by less than half a second in the opening event. Murphy, Chris Manning, Leon and Krug were third in 1:28.04.
Ferguson earned a runner-up finish in the 100 breast with a 55.16, his second-best time of the year, and he also finished second in the 200 breast with a 2:02.50. Freshman Alex Hancock - a midseason roster addition for the Tigers - took third place in his first collegiate swim with a 1:50.48 in the 200 fly.
The Tigers went 2-3-4 in the 50 free with Krug and Leon posting respective times of 20.43 and 20.44, and Chierighini earned a runner-up finish in the 100 free with a 43.74. Texas senior All-American Jimmy Feigen took the win in both events.
In the diving well, John Santeiu earned first-place points with a 356.10 on the 3-meter board as Texas' top divers competed in an exhibition role. Godzinski was the top performer for Auburn in the 1-meter event with a third-place score of 320.55.
Auburn and Texas will get together again on Friday afternoon for an exhibition meet with races being contested at non-traditional distances. The next dual meet for the Tiger men and women is next Saturday, Jan. 21, as Auburn travels to Florida for their final regular-season competition.
Auburn Swimming & Diving Results
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012
James E. Martin Aquatics Center - Auburn, Ala.
Team Scores (men): Texas 161, Auburn 131
Auburn Top Finishers:
200 Medley Relay: 2. Owens, Ferguson, Chierighini, Modrov (1:28.04); 1000 Freestyle: 3. Grothe (9:01.75); 200 Freestyle: 4. Disney-May (1:38.92); 100 Backstroke: 1. Owens (47.97); 100 Breaststroke: 2. Ferguson (55.16); 200 Butterfly: 3. Hancock (1:50.48); 50 Freestyle: 2. Krug (20.43); 1M Diving: 3. Godzinski (320.55); 100 Freestyle: 2. Chierighini (43.74); 200 Backstroke: 1. Owens (1:46.33); 200 Breaststroke: 2. Ferguson (2:02.50); 500 Freestyle: 5. Grothe (4:36.29); 100 Butterfly: 2. Leon (49.34); 3M Diving: 1. Santeiu (356.10); 200 IM: 1. Owens (1:48.48); 200 Freestyle Relay: 1. Modrov, Disney-May, Leon, Krug (1:19.32).