A Historic Victory for the Longhorns

For the second consecutive year, the University of Texas stands atop the collegiate swimming world. The Longhorns have clinched their second straight NCAA men's national championship, bringing their program's total to an impressive 17 titles—the most in the history of the sport. While the University of Florida kept the competition tight for the first three days, Texas surged ahead on Saturday to claim the victory with a total of 445.5 points, finishing 29.5 points ahead of the Gators.


Hubert Kos was instrumental in the team's success, racking up 57 individual points and establishing new NCAA records in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. Head coach Bob Bowman, who led Arizona State to a title in 2024, has now celebrated three consecutive championships, further cementing his reputation for developing elite talent capable of peaking at the national meet.


Key Team Performances

  • Florida: Secured a strong runner-up finish, bolstered by Josh Liendo's triple individual title sweep.
  • Indiana: Earned their second straight third-place finish with 351 points.
  • Arizona State: Rounded out the top four with 328 points, highlighted by four relay victories.
  • Tennessee: Returned to the top five for the second year running, scoring 272 points.

Highlights from the Final Night

The final session was filled with record-breaking performances and dramatic finishes:


200 IM Thriller

In a surprising turn, Virginia freshman Maximus Williamson surged during the final 50 yards to capture the 200 IM national title. Despite trailing Indiana's Owen McDonald for most of the race, Williamson’s explosive finish secured him the victory in his first NCAA championship appearance.


Liendo’s Sprint Dominance

Josh Liendo concluded his collegiate career in the 100 freestyle in spectacular fashion. By winning the event for the fourth year in a row, he became one of the fastest performers in history, stopping the clock at under 40 seconds—a feat achieved by only a few legends in the sport.


Kharun Takes the 200 Fly

Arizona State junior Ilya Kharun added to his ACC title collection by winning the 200 butterfly in 1:37.66. It was a tactical battle until the final lap, where Kharun managed to edge out Virginia freshman Thomas Heilman.


Record-Setting Backstroke

Texas senior Hubert Kos solidified his dominance in the backstroke. «I wanted to push the pace from the start,» he noted, eventually breaking his own 2025 NCAA record to win the 200 backstroke in 1:34.13.


The championships concluded with Arizona State winning the final relay, while Texas A&M freshman Emilio Trevino claimed the platform diving title after an impressive comeback performance from the seventh qualifying spot.