Cougars surge to first at Big 12 East Showdown

Houston swimming and diving finished first overall at the Big 12 East Showdown this past week, posting 1,292 points and 10 wins across the meet.

Houston opened day one of the tournament with a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay as sophomore Alexia Duncan, junior Evelyn Entrekin, senior Noor El Gendy and senior Liya Goupil touched in 1:39.75. The Cougars followed with a third-place result in the 200-yard freestyle relay, with Goupil, sophomore Sienna Bruner, junior Elizabeth Jimenez and senior Jenna Kerkman finishing in 1:32.38.

Individually, Duncan placed second in the 100-yard butterfly (54.16), junior Sydney Nethercutt earned second in the 400-yard IM (4:18.72) and Goupil added another runner-up finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.04).

Houston’s divers delivered standout performances. Junior Michelle McLeod claimed first on the 3-meter board with a score of 356.20 and took second on the 1-meter (308.35). Freshman Maisy Woloszyn secured her first collegiate victory, winning the 1-meter with a 323.10 and placing second on the 3-meter (331.10), earning her second NCAA Zone cut of the season.

Session two opened with a victory from Duncan in the 100-yard backstroke. Her time of 52.62 marked her first NCAA cut of the season. Senior Virag Peter finished third in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.53), while freshman Emma Overall placed second in the 500-yard freestyle with a 4:52.00. Goupil recorded a third-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (23.11).

The Cougars closed the day with a win in the 400-yard medley relay as Duncan, Entrekin, El Gendy and Goupil posted a time of 3:36.07.

Houston continued its dominance on Day two, collecting six first-place finishes during session three.

Entrekin opened the session by winning the 200-yard individual medley in 2:00.69. Goupil followed with a victory in the 100-yard freestyle, touching in 49.75.

Junior Sydney Nethercutt added a first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly, posting a time of 1:58.94. Overall captured the 1,650-yard freestyle in a personal-best 16:36.62.

Duncan earned the top spot in the 200-yard event with a time of 1:55.95.

On the boards, McLeod claimed first in the platform competition with a score of 293.70, while sophomore Caroline Roelen placed second with a 282.95.

Next, Houston will host Rice at 11 a.m. Jan. 31 at the CRWC Natatorium. The dual meet will recognize the program’s senior student-athletes prior to competition.