Championship Central | Individual Results: Click Here
Feb. 25, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Texas men's squad claimed its 10th straight Big 12 Conference championship, while the UT women earned its eighth consecutive league crown (1999-2006) on Saturday at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.
The Longhorn men's conference title streak dates back to 1980, head coach Eddie Reese's second year, when Texas was a member of the Southwest Conference. Since that time, UT has put together a string of 27 straight league victories.
Texas compiled 1,036.50 points over the four-day event, followed by Texas A&M and Missouri, respectively.
On the women's side, UT finished ahead of the pack with 942.50 points, while Texas A&M, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa State trailed the `Horns.
The Big 12 Conference honored the top performers of the championships based on a vote of the league's head coaches at the conclusion of the meet. The men's honorees include Swimmer of the Meet: Garrett Weber-Gale, Texas (2005, 06); Newcomer of the Meet: Michael Klueh, Texas; Diver of the Meet: Eric Sehn, Texas A&M (2005, 06); Swim Coach of the Meet: Eddie Reese (1997, 1999-2002, 04, 06); Dive Coach of the Meet: Kevin Wright, Texas A&M (1997-99, 2005, 06). In the women's field the following received recognition, Swimmer of the Meet: Codie Hansen, Texas A&M; Newcomer of the Meet: Triin Aljand; Co-Divers of the Meet - Kathryn Kelly and Mary Yarrison, Texas; Co-Swim Coach of the Meet: Jill Sterkel, Texas (1998, 2000-01, 06) Steve Bultman, Texas A&M (2002, 04-06); Dive Coach of the Meet: Matt Scoggin, Texas (1997-2000, 2003, 06).
Weber-Gale earned the 11th conference title of his career with a win in the 100-yard freestyle race, which he won for the second year in a row. In 2006, he was awarded five gold medals for his performance at the league meet.
Sehn completed a sweep of the 2006 diving events when he claimed the platform Saturday with a score of 408.70. Sehn also won the one- and three-meter springboard. The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada native is undefeated at the Big 12 Championships at 6-0 in two seasons.
Klueh recorded the only meet record on Saturday with a time of 14:51.32 seconds in the 1,650 free. Overall, Klueh set two Big 12 records (500 and 1,50 free) and three championships' marks (200/relay leg of 800 free relay and 500 free, 400 IM) in his first conference meet.
On the women's side, freshmen Hansen and Aljand led the Aggies to its third-highest point total (761) in Big 12 history. The duo tallied four conference victories apiece in their debut at the league championships. Hansen won the 200 and 500 free individually and was a member of the 400 and 800 free relays. Aljand claimed victories in the 50 free, 100 butterfly and on the 200 and 400 free relay squads.
Longhorn teammates Kelly and Yarrison shared a set of first and second place finishes in the one- and three-meter diving competitions. Kelly collected the gold in the one-meter while Yarrison was the runner-up. On the three-meter the scenario was reversed with Yarrison winning top honors and Kelly placing second.
In other action on Saturday, Katie Robinson (200 fly), Christian Schurr (200 breaststroke), and Elizabeth Wycliffe (200 backstroke) defended their individual titles. Wycliffe ends her career with five Big 12 championships, including three consecutive 200 backstroke titles.
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
Men
1. Texas: 1,036.50 2. Texas A&M: 838.00 3. Missouri: 719.50
Women
1. Texas: 942.50 2. Texas A&M: 761.00 3. Missouri: 453.00 4. Kansas: 439.00 5. Nebraska: 386.50 6. Iowa State: 357.00
Attendance: 897
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS HONORS
Men
Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet: Garrett Weber-Gale, Jr., Texas
Outstanding Diver of the Meet: Eric Sehn, So., Texas A&M
Outstanding Newcomer of the Meet: Michael Klueh, Fr., Texas
Swim Coach of the Meet: Eddie Reese, Texas
Dive Coach of the Meet: Kevin Wright, Texas A&M
Women
Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet: Codie Hansen, Fr., Texas A&M
Outstanding Co-Diver of the Meet: Kathryn Kelly, Fr., Texas; Mary Yarrison, So., Texas
Outstanding Newcomer of the Meet: Triin Aljand, Fr., Texas A&M
Co-Swim Coach of the Meet: Jill Sterkel, Texas; Steve Bultman, Texas A&M
Dive Coach of the Meet: Matt Scoggin, Texas
DAY FOUR CHAMPIONS
* - Big 12 Championships Meet Record
$ - NCAA Championships Automatic-Qualifying Time
# - NCAA Championships Consideration Time
Men
Platform Diving: Eric Sehn, So., Texas A&M - 408.70
200-Yard Backstroke: Caleb McDermott, So., Texas - 1:43.14$
100-Yard Freestyle: Garrett Weber-Gale, Jr., Texas - 43.01$
1650-Yard Freestyle: Michael Klueh, Fr., Texas - 14:51.32*$
200-Yard Breaststroke: Christian Schurr, Sr, Texas -1:57.17#
200-Yard Butterfly: David Donaldson, Jr., Texas - 1:46.33#
400-Yard Freestyle Relay: Texas A&M - 2:55.65#
(Scott Newmann, Andrew Sullivant, Ozzie Gardner, Franciso Picasso)
Women
200-Yard Backstroke: Elizabeth Wycliffe, Sr., Texas - 1:56.11$
100-Yard Freestyle: Jaclyn Faulkner, Sr., Texas - 49.41$
1650-Yard Freestyle: Lauren Bailey, Jr., Nebraska - 16:20.05$
200-Yard Breaststroke: Erin Briskie, Sr., Texas A&M - 2:11.94$
200-Yard Butterfly: Katie Robinson, Jr. Texas - 2:00.66#
Platform Diving: Jessica Livingston, So., Texas - 303.50
400-Yard Freestyle Relay: Texas A&M - 3:17.35(Christine Marshall, Julia Wilkinson, Codie Hansen, Triin Aljand)
Big 12 Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Championships
Mizzou Aquatics Center - Columbia, Mo.
Saturday Quotes
Caleb McDermott (Texas), Men's 200 Backstroke:
"It's a lot of fun. My team worked really hard to get here. We're happy with how the other guys swam in our group." (on the race): "I felt pretty good. I tried to get out pretty smooth through the first 50 and hold on through the rest of it."
Jaclyn Faulkner (Texas), Women's 100 Freestyle:
"Before going into it I was just hoping for a best time. I was just really happy with my time and shocked with my place. I was just really happy. I've been through a lot so this is a great way to end my conference career. I was thinking that I was dying and just to hold on. It was hurting real bad, but I made it. I got my hand on the wall and that's what I wanted to do."
Garrett Weber-Gale (Texas), Men's 100 Freestyle:
"I felt really good. I was really looking forward to it all week. I'm really happy with the results because I think I have a lot of room to improve before the NCAA's. I plan on really getting a lot stronger because I fell like I'm one of the weaker sprinters out there and I think once I do that if I combine that with good mechanics I can be a lot better next year. I put up four fingers for the final four, four seniors that we have left and we are really trying to respect those guys and we want to win for them tonight."
Michael Klueh (Texas), Men's 1650 Freestyle:
"The middle of the race I thought I could be a little faster, but overall it's the best time for me by over 10 seconds and I'm really excited about the meet record. I'm really excited about swimming next month in NCAA's. I knew I was going pretty fast but I wasn't sure how fast I was going, but I'm pretty happy with the time."
Eric Sehn (Texas A&M), Men's Platform:
"It's exciting. It's great to be able to support the team the way I can. I felt it went pretty consistently in the finals. In the prelims I didn't dive as well as I wanted to. I'm glad just went to finals and did an average flip. Last year I won the event too and this year I think I made a lot of stepping stones to where I am now and I think next year I am going to continue that and learn a lot more to be able to continue how I am doing it. I'm just going to wait and see if that happens."
Erin Briskie (Texas A&M), Women's 200 breaststroke:
"I was trying to just live in the moment so I don't really remember it other than it hurt. All my teammates were there at the end so that really cheered me on. I can not believe. My coach has been telling me for years that I can go that fast but I did not believe him. I guess I finally believe him now. It has been wonderful. It has been so great, all my friends are here its been so fun, having my parents here. Its been great."
Christian Schurr (Texas):
"I finally had some life today for once for the first time this season. It's my best time by five tenths and it's really good for right now. It is right where I need to be. Hopefully in four weeks it will be better. When you are hurting that bad you aren't thinking. You are just trying to hold your stroke and keep it going without spinning too much. It was pretty good. It was my best time. I'm looking forward to four weeks of rest but for right now this is where I need to be."
Katie Robinson (Texas), Women's 200 butterfly:
"It was pretty painful but I just wanted to get my hand on the wall. I couldn't catch my breath so I just throught I should keep my head down if I'm not going to breath. I'm pretty happy, but I wish I would have gone faster. For right now in the season getting ready to go to NC's it's a pretty good time."
David Donaldson (Texas), Men's 200 butterfly:
"I feel good about what I did. My goal time was a little faster but I'm pleased with how I came out and how our team did today. We had a good team effort today and I'm just really happy with how I came out. It's really exciting. This is the best time for me. This is a really good race, a great time and a great pool, so it is exciting."
Jessica Livingston (Texas), Women's Platform Diving:
"I feel good about it. I had a few rough ones, but I pulled it together in the end. It's wonderful. I just want to be able to help the team out so it's great."
Julia Wilkinson (Texas A&M):
"It feels so amazing, especially to do it in the relays with three other girls because its four times as good if you can share it with your teammates. This is the most fun I've ever had at a swim meet. I was so nervous to come here but its so much fun. I'd like to wake up and it be Wednesday again so I can do it all over. We're hoping that as a team we can win big 12 champs by the time we are seniors. That was our goal this year but we didn't quite get it. I'm sure by the time we are seniors we will be able to do it."
Scott Newmann (Texas A&M):
"I think this race we really came together. We all did a really good job. Overall I think it is a really good race. I think it was alright. I could have done a little better but at the same time it's the 5th best time in the nation and that is good enough to get us into NCAA and that is the most important thing right now. My four years have been the best years of my life. I really enjoyed it and I've had a great coach Jay Holmes and Doug Boyd. This is a tremendous program and I'm really glad to be there.