Get ready for a thrilling dive into the world of college swimming, where the Arizona Wildcats made waves this weekend! But here's where it gets controversial: Can Arizona's dominance be challenged anytime soon? The Wildcats swept both the men’s and women’s dual meets against TCU and SMU in Dallas, Texas, on October 30-31, 2025, leaving their competitors in their wake. With victories by nearly 100 points in most matchups, Arizona’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. Meanwhile, SMU emerged as the second-best, outpacing TCU in both men’s and women’s events.
Women’s Recap: A Relay Dominance to Remember
Arizona’s women’s team stole the show by winning all four relays over the two-day meet, showcasing their unparalleled teamwork and speed. The 400 medley relay team of Lila Lillie, Eleni Gewalt, Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhanghah, and Riley Botton clinched victory by a razor-thin margin of eight hundredths of a second over SMU, clocking 3:35.08. And this is the part most people miss: Julia Wozniak’s blistering 48.22 freestyle split in the ‘B’ relay was the fastest in the field, while Jimena Leal’s 53.35 backstroke lead-off for SMU’s ‘A’ team set the pace early.
The Wildcats continued their relay dominance with a win in the 200 freestyle relay, thanks to Patricija Kondraskaite, Riley Botton, Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhanghah, and Julia Wozniak, who finished in 1:29.88. The 200 medley relay saw a similar lineup, with Lila Lillie, Eleni Gewalt, Patricija Kondraskaite, and Riley Botton securing another win in 1:38.76. Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhanghah’s 23.53 fly split in the ‘B’ relay was the fastest in the field, highlighting her versatility.
The meet concluded with Arizona’s victory in the 400 freestyle relay, where Patricija Kondraskaite, Julia Wozniak, Riley Botton, and Kayman Neal touched the wall in 3:16.72. SMU’s Chloe Corbin posted the fastest split of the event with a 48.48, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the Wildcats.
In individual events, Riley Botton claimed the 50 free in 22.54, just shy of her season-best. Julia Wozniak took the 100 free in 48.53, edging out teammate Patricija Kondraskaite. Kayman Neal dominated the 200 back with a time of 1:54.38, just half a second off her lifetime best. Eleni Gewalt and Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhanghah added to Arizona’s tally with wins in the 100 breast and 100 fly, respectively.
SMU’s Bright Spots: A Few Victories Amidst the Storm
While Arizona reigned supreme, SMU had their moments. Summer Osborne won the 200 freestyle in a personal-best 1:46.31, narrowly edging out Arizona’s Kayman Neal. Jimena Leal secured the 100 back in 53.48, just a tenth off her lifetime best. AnneMarie Vlaic dominated the 200 fly in 1:57.59, and Izzy Krantzcke took the 200 IM in 2:01.49, a new season best.
TCU’s Standouts: Finding Glory in Individual Events
TCU’s Avery Dillon was the meet’s only dual event winner, claiming the 500 free and 1650 free with season-best times. Nina Vadovicova won the 200 breast in 2:12.50, and Taylor Steelman took the 400 IM in 4:22.80. In diving, Emma Herrera secured the 3-Meter event with a score of 263.80, while Arizona’s Allie Sando won the 1-Meter.
Men’s Recap: Arizona’s Unstoppable Force
The Arizona men mirrored their female counterparts, sweeping all four relays. The 400 medley relay team of Alex Desangles, Tavner Wisdom, Haakon Naughton, and Tomas Lukminas won in 3:07.63. The 200 freestyle relay team of Taylor Luck, Ralph Daleiden Ciuferri, Tomas Lukminas, and Jakey Hutchinson clocked 1:18.50. The 200 medley relay team of Duncan Henderson, Tavner Wisdom, Haakon Naughton, and Jakey Hutchinson secured victory in 1:25.66. The 400 freestyle relay team of Hutchinson, Lukminas, Luck, and Daleiden Ciuferri finished in 2:51.45.
Tomas Lukminas was a standout, winning the 50 and 100 freestyle events with a season-best 42.30 in the 100. Ralph Daleiden Ciuferri took the 200 free in 1:33.60, the 15th fastest time in the nation. Alex Desangles dominated both backstroke events, and Haakon Naughton won the 100 fly and 200 IM. Joel Nace added to Arizona’s wins with a victory in the 200 fly.
SMU’s Men: Holding Off TCU
SMU’s men finished second, led by Jack Henry Forrest’s win in the 500 free in 4:22.95. Kristaps Mikelsons and Joe Umhofer won the 100 and 200 breast, respectively, while Andy Baklanov took the 400 IM in 3:52.80. TCU’s lone victory came from Aaron Wilmes in the 1650 free with a time of 15:20.69, the 7th fastest in the nation.
In diving, SMU’s Luke Sitz won the 1-Meter event, while Arizona’s Luke Hernandez claimed the 3-Meter.
What’s Next?
The Wildcats return to action on November 7th, hosting USC. TCU heads to the Mizzou Invite (November 20th-22nd), and SMU hosts their midseason invite (November 19th-22nd).
Thought-Provoking Question: With Arizona’s overwhelming dominance, is there any team that can challenge them in the near future? Or will the Wildcats continue to reign supreme? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
