Saturday, February 18
Dallas, Texas
Prelims: 10 a.m. | Finals: 5 p.m.
University of Houston
vs
American Athletic Conference
Swimming & Diving Clinches Seventh Consecutive American Title
2/18/2023 11:00:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
Cougars set program records, earn NCAA B-Cuts en route to seventh championship
DALLAS – The University of Houston Swimming & Diving program successfully defended its American Athletic Conference title for a seventh consecutive season on Saturday evening at the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championships from the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium.
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Houston clinched the title with 1,311.5 points, 11.5 points ahead of FIU with 1,300 points. The point total was Houston's highest at the event, besting the program's previous high of 1,009 in 2021. SMU placed third with 1,208.5 points, followed by Rice (1,136), Cincinnati (865), East Carolina (681), Florida Atlantic (573), North Texas (506) and Tulane (419).
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For a second consecutive season, Houston Head Coach Tanica Jamison was named The American's Women's Swimming Coach of the Year. Earlier in the week, Houston Diving Coach Bob Gunter was selected as the league's Women's Diving Coach of the Year and diver Chase Farris captured the Women's Most Outstanding Diver of the Year.
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"It is truly a blessing to win our seventh consecutive championship," Jamison said. "One thing is we for sure like to give the fans exciting finishes. I would like to thank Allan [McCallum], Bob [Gunter], Autumn [Hammel], administration, support staff and alumni for the constant support. Our team fought to the finish to accomplish this team goal."
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Freshman Eden Humphrey started the evening off for the Cougars by breaking two program records and taking third in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Humphrey is now the record holder in the 1,000-yard freestyle after a split time of 9:56.46 and in the 1,650-yard freestyle after touching the wall at 16:30.39. The Louisville, Ky., native, earned an NCAA B-Cut in the process. Junior Maddie Wallin followed in sixth place with a time of 16:51.16 to give the Cougars 24 points.
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Senior Julia Koluch added 20 points to Houston's tally by taking first place in the 200-yard backstroke consolation final with a time of 1:59.52. Freshman Landry Hadder swam a 2:00.75 for fifth place.
In the 100-yard freestyle consolation final, sophomore Mary Catherine Jurica picked up 12 points (51.00) for seventh place. Senior Elizabeth Richardson finished third in the C-Final with a time of 51.00.
Houston continued to add points to its name, earning a total of 83.5 points in the 200-yard breaststroke. In the championship final, freshman Virag Peter (5th; 2:12.43) and senior Audrey McKinnon (6th; 2:12.57) each earned NCAA B-Cuts in the event. In the consolation final, sophomore Henrietta Fangli took first (2:12.85) followed by junior Sophie Anderson (2:15.81) in fifth.
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Freshman Alondra Ortiz earned Houston its seventh podium finish of the week after taking third place in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:58.56. Junior Abby Jackson followed in fourth (1:58.92), earning an NCAA B-Cut in the process. Sophomore Abbie Alvarez added an additional 22 points with an eighth-place finish (2:01.92). Sophomore Adelaide Meuter took first in the consolation final with a time of 2:00.42. Freshman Noor El Gendy touched the wall at 2:04.72 to take seventh place.
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The Cougars sealed the evening with the 400-yard freestyle relay taking seventh with Jurica, Richardson, Humphrey and Meuter, leading the Cougars to 46 points with a time of 3:24.90.
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UP NEXT
Houston swimmers will travel to College Station, Texas, for the NCAA Last Chance Meet beginning next Thursday. The diving team will compete in NCAA Diving Zones held in Minneapolis Minn., from March 7-9.
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Qualifying Cougars will then focus on NCAA Championships beginning March 15 in Knoxville, Tenn.
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SUPPORT HOUSTON RISEÂ
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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JOIN the FREESTYLE FUND
Fans are invited to join the Freestyle Fund to support Houston Swimming & Diving. Freestyle Fund members provide financial support directly to Houston Swimming & Diving for needs beyond the program's operating budget. For more information, fans can click here.
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STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSwim on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarSwim or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougarswim.
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Houston clinched the title with 1,311.5 points, 11.5 points ahead of FIU with 1,300 points. The point total was Houston's highest at the event, besting the program's previous high of 1,009 in 2021. SMU placed third with 1,208.5 points, followed by Rice (1,136), Cincinnati (865), East Carolina (681), Florida Atlantic (573), North Texas (506) and Tulane (419).
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For a second consecutive season, Houston Head Coach Tanica Jamison was named The American's Women's Swimming Coach of the Year. Earlier in the week, Houston Diving Coach Bob Gunter was selected as the league's Women's Diving Coach of the Year and diver Chase Farris captured the Women's Most Outstanding Diver of the Year.
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"It is truly a blessing to win our seventh consecutive championship," Jamison said. "One thing is we for sure like to give the fans exciting finishes. I would like to thank Allan [McCallum], Bob [Gunter], Autumn [Hammel], administration, support staff and alumni for the constant support. Our team fought to the finish to accomplish this team goal."
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Freshman Eden Humphrey started the evening off for the Cougars by breaking two program records and taking third in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Humphrey is now the record holder in the 1,000-yard freestyle after a split time of 9:56.46 and in the 1,650-yard freestyle after touching the wall at 16:30.39. The Louisville, Ky., native, earned an NCAA B-Cut in the process. Junior Maddie Wallin followed in sixth place with a time of 16:51.16 to give the Cougars 24 points.
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Senior Julia Koluch added 20 points to Houston's tally by taking first place in the 200-yard backstroke consolation final with a time of 1:59.52. Freshman Landry Hadder swam a 2:00.75 for fifth place.
In the 100-yard freestyle consolation final, sophomore Mary Catherine Jurica picked up 12 points (51.00) for seventh place. Senior Elizabeth Richardson finished third in the C-Final with a time of 51.00.
Houston continued to add points to its name, earning a total of 83.5 points in the 200-yard breaststroke. In the championship final, freshman Virag Peter (5th; 2:12.43) and senior Audrey McKinnon (6th; 2:12.57) each earned NCAA B-Cuts in the event. In the consolation final, sophomore Henrietta Fangli took first (2:12.85) followed by junior Sophie Anderson (2:15.81) in fifth.
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Freshman Alondra Ortiz earned Houston its seventh podium finish of the week after taking third place in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:58.56. Junior Abby Jackson followed in fourth (1:58.92), earning an NCAA B-Cut in the process. Sophomore Abbie Alvarez added an additional 22 points with an eighth-place finish (2:01.92). Sophomore Adelaide Meuter took first in the consolation final with a time of 2:00.42. Freshman Noor El Gendy touched the wall at 2:04.72 to take seventh place.
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The Cougars sealed the evening with the 400-yard freestyle relay taking seventh with Jurica, Richardson, Humphrey and Meuter, leading the Cougars to 46 points with a time of 3:24.90.
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UP NEXT
Houston swimmers will travel to College Station, Texas, for the NCAA Last Chance Meet beginning next Thursday. The diving team will compete in NCAA Diving Zones held in Minneapolis Minn., from March 7-9.
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Qualifying Cougars will then focus on NCAA Championships beginning March 15 in Knoxville, Tenn.
Â
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISEÂ
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
Â
JOIN the FREESTYLE FUND
Fans are invited to join the Freestyle Fund to support Houston Swimming & Diving. Freestyle Fund members provide financial support directly to Houston Swimming & Diving for needs beyond the program's operating budget. For more information, fans can click here.
Â
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSwim on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarSwim or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougarswim.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Swimming & Diving
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/ Swimming & Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
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