Found something interesting on the web today: http://www.directathletics.com/performance_lists.html

Click on Big 12 performance list then look at how dominant our swimming program would be in the Big 12 minus Texas -- both men and women...pretty amazing...I wonder why Texas doesn't have their times on there and the rest of the Big 12 does...

Hmmm....It is pretty obvious that Texas has been the swimming power in the SWC and Big12 since 1977. So this list isn't exactly that earth shattering. Remember too there are only three men's swimming teams in the Big 12. It looks like direct athletics is a company that does meet entries for a fee. I suppose Texas isn't listed because Texas does their own entries.

I am the first to say A&M is improving rapidly, especially in women's.

But it wouldn't make sense that EVERY team in the Big 12 has their stuff up there with the exception of one school, the one with the most money...maybe Texas just has a lazy swimming SID...

[This message has been edited by Look Out Below (edited 12/22/2005 1:55p).]

You might be right (lazy SID). The UT pool "record wall" is way out of date. Phelps set the American SCY 200 free record and they haven't put that up. I think a few others are obsolete too.

This year might just be the year our women turn the corner on the Longhorns. It looks like we could just do it with this team. Bookmark this post for future reference.

I met an A&M woman swimmer this week who is home for the holidays and is training with her club team. I won't name her - but she is very excited about the season and thinks Bultman is a terrific coach. I simply told her that I think the Ags can beat tu this year!

I heard that Texas' women may have lost their best backstroker...that would certainly help the Ags cause if that is the case...

According to various posts on www.collegeswimming.com Hayley McGregory is transferring to USC.

Hayley is an Olympic Trials qualifier (3rd at the last one in both 100 and 200 back). She has not swum this season at all. Apparently had some kind of injury and she also has not been training with tu. She is training with Longhorn Aquatics and she is back in shape. She recently swam a 54.66 100 back, faster than anyone on tu or A&M.

Looks like we still have quite a ways to go:

http://www.aggieathletics.com/pressRelease.php?PRID=10719

BTW, how's the men's program progressing with Jay Holmes at the helm. Are things any better now than they were under Nash, who has been gone for what, 2 years now?

Despite th efinal score, there are a few good things to take out of that loss:

1) we had no divers; the 3 we have are all good when healthy
2) all three of our wins were basically gained by freshmen
3) if you read into Bultman's quote a little bit, you can tell he thinks things might happen a little differently at the Big 12 and NCAA meets

I was disappointed in the results. But then I realized 32 points were diving - all to tu. Then again - if you looked at the races that were "exhibitioned" - Texas conceded several points to us (200IM and 400 free relay). The score should have been worse.

I don't think we're very fast right now. We were very slow against SMU. I can only guess it is tired swimmmers in heavy training, including through the holidays. Codie Hansen didn't swim 200 free - which she probably would have won. tu's depth in fly/breast was pretty evident. We are best at freestyle right now. Our medley relay was soundly beaten.

A few bright spots - Rebecca Sturdy's 100 free time was pretty good. And of course the freshmen are scoring lots of points.

The exhibitioning would have only given them 10 more points...didn't make much difference really...seems kind of stupid that they exhibitioned a race that they lost (400 relay)...

Texas is extremely strong in the breast and solid in the 200 fly...That was also their fastest medley relay of the entire season...

I think you hit the nail on the head with our slow times being from training...with that being said, Wilkinson put up a couple of impressive performances (50.7 100 free and 22 split anchoring the medley relay)

Depending on whom Bultman swims in what, the possibility exists that A&M could win every individual freestyle event at the Big 12 meet, not to mention all three of the relays if they truly haven't pulled back at all in their training...

I don't think A&M could win every event, no matter how Bultman chooses swimmers and events for the Big12s. A&M could win the majority. But we can't win breastroke. We're actually close in back, but Wycliffe is a veteran and will likely swim well. We're lucky that McGregory is not there. We are 10 seconds behind Texas in 200 breast. We could win every freestyle event, depending on where Codie Hansen swims. I agree we could win the relays, but the medley would have the worst odds.

I have no knowledge on this - but I expect Bultman to rest for the Big 12s for our best ever chance to win the conference. We still don't have that many NCAA automatic times so they'll have to get them at the Big 12s and taper again for the NCAAs.

re-read my last sentence...I wasn't saying we could win every event...and there are five total relays not three... i think we can win the 3 freestyle relays...the medleys will be big trouble just like in the dual meet

I have no doubt there will be multiple auto times at the Big 12 meet...each year the Aggies seem to rack up more and more...

[This message has been edited by Look Out Below (edited 1/19/2006 7:20p).]

LOB - Oops my mistake. I agree with you! I'm ready to see those girls explode rested and tapered!

How much for ticket to a meet? My sons are big into swimming and we may make the drive over there.

I think most of A&M's swim meets are free. The Big 12 championships will have a fee, but this year they are at Missouri (they have a new pool).

I think A&M's men have a dual meet against Texas in CS coming up. A&M will get thrashed by Texas but you will see some very fine swimmers at the meet - especially Michael Klueh, a freshman at Texas. Klueh was the 5A champion in two events last year, set the 500 free 5A record, and is already one of the NCAA's fastest in middle distance freestyle.

all dual meets are free; only home meets left this season are men vs. Texas and women vs. North Texas