Texas Women’s Swimming and Diving climbs to No. 1 in CSCAA team poll
AUSTIN, Texas – Impressive road victories over No. 14 Auburn and No. 2 Georgia have vaulted Texas into the No. 1 slot atop the CSCAA (College Swimming Coaches Association of America) team poll released Wednesday. It marks the first No. 1 national ranking for the nine-time national champion Longhorns under fifth-year head coach Carol Capitani. The bi-weekly CSCAA team poll reflects the recognized teams' strength in dual-meet competition, and Texas arguably boasts the most impressive collection of dual-meet wins this season.
"Certainly I am really proud of these young women and the way they competed last weekend," Capitani said. "Everyone stepped up across the board, and that's why it was so much fun, because everyone was able to contribute. The polls and rankings are a great snapshot of the past two weeks in college swimming, and it is an honor to be recognized for our team's accomplishments. What matters most is how we finish at the end of the season, and the team has some big goals in that area, as well. We have some great leadership, and the team is in a good place to accomplish those goals moving forward."
Led by All-America seniors Madisyn Cox and Tasija Karosas, Texas boasts dual-meet wins over five of the nation's top-11 teams. The Longhorns' only defeat came at the home pool of No. 2 Stanford, which features Olympic gold medalists Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel.
On Saturday (Jan. 14), Texas handed No. 2 Georgia its first home loss in 22 years and ended the defending NCAA champion Lady Bulldogs' 103-meet home winning streak. Two days prior, the Longhorns dispatched No. 14 Auburn, who has since climbed to No. 11 nationally.
Texas opened the season last October with two dual-meet wins apiece over No. 14 Indiana and No. 20 Florida in Bloomington, Indiana. In early November, UT knocked off No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 9 N.C. State on back-to-back days in Austin before holding off No. 6 California at its home pool the following week.
On Tuesday, Cox earned her second consecutive and third overall selection this season as the NCAA Division I Women's Swimmer of the Week. The Lubbock native ranks No. 1 nationally in the 200-yard individual medley (1:52.83) and holds the No. 3 mark in the 400 IM (4:02.60) and the No. 5 time in the 200 breaststroke (2:07.21).
Last month, Cox broke the seven-year-old school and Big 12 marks previously held by two-time U.S. Olympian Kathleen Hersey in the 200 IM.
Karosas, the school and Big 12 record holder in the 100 and 200 backstroke events, ranks second nationally at 100 yards (50.86) and fifth at 200 (1:51.65).
Texas hosts its Senior Day meet next week when it welcomes No. 17 Arizona for a two-day dual beginning Friday, Jan. 27.
