Get ready for an exciting swim meet recap! The 2026 Eddie Reese Showdown is in full swing, and we've got some thrilling moments to share. Let's dive right in!
The Long-Awaited NCAA Debut of Ksawery Masiuk
The first session of the Eddie Reese Showdown, held in Austin, Texas, on January 23-24, 2026, was a preview of the intense competition to come. But the highlight for many was the highly anticipated NCAA debut of Polish swimming star Ksawery Masiuk.
Masiuk, a bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships, has had an intriguing journey to the NCAA. He initially committed to NC State in 2022 but decided to take an Olympic redshirt year and defer his enrollment until after the 2024 Paris Olympics. In 2023, he chose to stay in Poland and continue training with his longtime coach, but in 2024, he announced his commitment to the University of Texas, with plans to join the team in January 2025. However, his enrollment was delayed due to some formalities, and he finally arrived on campus just this month.
On Friday morning, Masiuk made his highly anticipated debut as a Texas Longhorn, racing in the 50-yard butterfly. He finished in fifth place overall with a time of 20.91 seconds. Masiuk also swam the second leg of the Texas 200-yard freestyle relay, splitting a solid 19.28, and contributed to the Texas 'B' 400-yard medley relay team, splitting 45.73 on the fly leg. This was Masiuk's first-ever SCY (short course yards) meet, and we're excited to see more of his performances in the upcoming sessions, especially in his signature backstroke events, where he's a World Championship medalist.
But here's where it gets controversial... Masiuk's decision to defer his enrollment and stay in Poland for additional training has sparked debates among swimming enthusiasts. Some argue that it was a strategic move to gain an edge over his competitors, while others believe it was a personal choice to maximize his potential. What do you think? Should athletes prioritize their individual development or commit fully to their chosen university program?
Another notable return was that of Hubert Kos, who made his season debut for the Texas Longhorns after taking the first semester off. Kos, who broke two SCM World Records in the 100 and 200 backstroke earlier this season, finished second in the 50 backstroke, just behind his Texas teammate, Will Modglin.
Most of the events in the morning session were 50-yard stroke races, which are not typically part of NCAA or conference competitions, along with the 400 individual medley and the men's and women's 200 freestyle and 400 medley relays.
Women's Recap: A Tight Battle
After the first session, the Texas women's team holds a slim eight-point lead over Louisville, with 257 points to the Cardinals' 249. Ohio State is close behind in third with 227 points.
Louisville started strong, winning the first event, the 200 freestyle relay, with a time of 1:26.36, just half a second ahead of the Texas 'A' relay. The Louisville team consisted of Caroline Larsen, Julia Dennis, Julie Mishler, and Ella Welch, who overcame a slight deficit on the first leg to take the lead and hold it to the finish.
Texas fought back in the 400 individual medley, with Campbell Stoll claiming the top time of 4:05.79, more than four seconds ahead of Ohio State's Paige Delma. Angie Coe rounded out the top three for Texas.
Eva Okaro, another Texas swimmer, followed up with a win in the women's 50 butterfly, touching the wall in 23.35 seconds, just ahead of Louisville's Caroline Larsen. Texas's Lillie Nesty finished third in this event.
In the 50 backstroke, Louisville took the top two spots, with Camille Murray swimming the fastest time of 24.31 seconds, closely followed by her teammate, Julie Mishler. Texas's Emma Kern finished third.
The women's morning session concluded with the 400 medley relay, which Louisville won with a new season-best time of 3:27.40. This time moves them up to sixth in the country this season, an impressive feat.
Texas finished second in this relay, with their team of Emma Kern, Angie Coe, Campbell Stoll, and Eva Okaro. Ohio State took third place.
In diving, Texas swept the top two spots in the women's 1-meter event, with Bayleigh Cranford and Alejandra Estudillo claiming first and second, respectively. Ohio State's Michelle Mazzara finished third.
Men's Recap: Texas Leads the Pack
The Texas men's team is currently leading the points rankings after the first session, with 256 points. Louisville sits in second with 215 points, and Ohio State is in third with 159 points.
Louisville started the morning with a win in the 200 freestyle relay, with a strong performance from their team of Nikita Sheremet, Charlie Crush, Aiden Musso, and Guy Brooks. Texas's 'A' relay finished second, and their 'B' relay took third.
Texas dominated the men's 50 breaststroke, with Nate Germonprez and Campbell McKean taking the top two spots. Louisville's Finnley Conklin finished third.
Ohio State's Matthew Klinge won the men's 50 fly, narrowly beating Texas's Garrett Gould by two hundredths of a second. Louisville's Aiden Musso finished third.
In the men's 400 individual medley, Rex Maurer took the top time of 3:41.17, finishing ahead of Louisville's Jackson Millard. Tristan Jankovics of Ohio State finished third, while Baylor Nelson, who currently leads the nation in the event, finished fifth with a time that was 13 seconds slower than his November swim.
Will Modglin of Texas won the 50 backstroke, with Hubert Kos finishing just behind him in second. Charlie Crush of Louisville took third.
The men's meet concluded with the 400 medley relay, where Texas took the top two spots. The 'A' team, consisting of Will Modglin, Nate Germonprez, Hubert Kos, and Garrett Gould, swam a strong 3:03.03, finishing three seconds ahead of the 'B' team.
As we look forward to the evening finals session, the competition is heating up. Who will emerge as the top performers? Stay tuned to find out!
