Get Ready for a Swimming Showdown! The 2026 Eddie Reese Texas Showdown is Here, and It's Packed with Top Talent!
Prepare yourselves for an electrifying weekend of swimming as the University of Texas hosts the second annual Eddie Reese Texas Showdown! This highly anticipated event, taking place on January 23-24, 2026, will feature a fierce competition between Texas, Louisville, and Ohio State. Both the men's and women's teams from these institutions are ranked within the top 20 nationally, promising a spectacular display of skill and speed. The Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas, will be the battleground, with sessions kicking off at 11:00 am EST in the morning and 7:00 pm EST in the evening. You can catch all the action live on SECN+ and follow the results in real-time via Meet Mobile.
Texas Dives In as the Favorite, But Don't Count Out the Challengers!
The home team, the University of Texas, is entering this showdown with serious momentum. Their men's team proudly holds the No. 1 ranking in the NCAA, while the women's team is a formidable No. 2, according to the latest CCSCA polls. However, the competition is far from a one-team show! Louisville's squads are also incredibly strong, with both their men's and women's teams ranked in the top 10 (Men: No. 8, Women: No. 6). Ohio State is right on their heels, positioned at No. 16 for the men and No. 14 for the women. This means we're in for some incredibly close races!
Session 1 Highlights: Early Wins and Close Finishes!
The first session of the Eddie Reese Texas Showdown has already delivered some thrilling moments. Let's dive into some of the key results:
Women's 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: While the official NCAA and U.S. Open records remain impressive (Virginia's 1:23.63 from 2024), the focus here is on the immediate competition. We're eager to see how these top teams stack up against these benchmarks!
Men's 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Similarly, the current NCAA and U.S. Open records stand at Tennessee's 1:12.80 (2025). The excitement builds as we anticipate new records being challenged!
Women's 50 Yard Breaststroke: In a tight race, Anna Ingaki from Louisville clinched the victory with a time of 28.91. Texas's Haley McDonald secured second place at 29.16, followed closely by Ohio State's Krista Marlin in third at 29.48. It's fascinating how these individual sprints can set the tone for the entire meet!
Men's 50 Yard Breaststroke: Texas showcased their breaststroke prowess with a dominant 1-2 finish. Nate Germonprez led the charge, winning by a significant half-second margin with a time of 23.56. His teammate, Campbell McKean, took second at 24.02. Louisville's Finnley Conklin rounded out the podium in third place with 24.30.
Women's 400 Yard IM: The NCAA and U.S. Open record for this event is 3:54.60, set by Ella Eastin in 2018. In this session, Campbell Chase of Texas delivered a commanding performance, winning by over five seconds with a time of 4:08.09. Ohio State's Jessica Eden and Adair Shaw secured the next two spots, finishing in 4:13.81 and 4:15.94, respectively.
Women's 50 Yard Butterfly: Louisville demonstrated their strength in sprint butterfly events. Julia Dennis took first place in 23.78, with her teammate Karoline Barrett following in second at 24.24. Texas's Alexa Fulton claimed third with a time of 24.50.
Men's 50 Yard Butterfly: This was an incredibly close race! Matthew Klinge from Ohio State narrowly edged out Texas's Garrett Gould by a mere 0.02 seconds, finishing in 20.38 to Gould's 20.40. Louisville managed to get two swimmers on the podium, with Aiden Musso and Rian Graham tying for third at 20.84.
Men's 400 Yard IM: The NCAA and U.S. Open record here is an astonishing 3:28.82, set by Leon Marchand in 2023. In a hard-fought battle, Texas secured a 1-2 finish. Cooper Lucas emerged victorious with a time of 3:41.87, closely followed by his teammate Spencer Aurnou-Rhees at 3:43.63. Louisville's Tommy Bried put up a strong fight, finishing just behind in third at 3:43.81.
Women's 50 Yard Backstroke: Another event where all three schools landed on the podium! Kk LeBlanc of Ohio State took the win in 24.74, with Louisville's Abby Karl in second at 24.93. Texas's Sienna Schellenger finished just shy of breaking the 25-second mark, touching the wall at 25.02.
Men's 50 Yard Backstroke: This race was decided by the narrowest of margins! Filip Kosinski from Louisville claimed first place in 22.02, just 0.04 seconds ahead of Texas's Kyle Peck, who finished in 22.06. Louisville also secured third place with Nate Thomas touching the wall at 22.69.
Women's 400 Yard Medley Relay & Men's 400 Yard Medley Relay: We're eagerly awaiting the results of these crucial relay events! The current NCAA and U.S. Open records are Virginia's 3:19.58 for women (2025) and Florida's 2:55.66 for men (2025). These relays often bring out the most dramatic finishes!
A Note on the Schedule: It appears that some results are being posted slightly out of the official event order. This can sometimes add an extra layer of suspense to the competition!
The Big Question: With such intense competition and top-ranked teams battling it out, where do you think the momentum will shift as the meet progresses? Are there any swimmers or teams you're particularly excited to watch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We'd love to hear your predictions and reactions!
