MINNEAPOLIS – The Texas A&M men's swimming and diving team made the biggest move of any team in the top 20 by surging up four spots into 14th place with another strong day at the 2018 NCAA Championships on Friday at the University of Minnesota.
Top 20 Teams in the Standings:
Head Coach Jay Holmes said:
"The divers were awesome with all three scoring in the consolation final. That was a big point swing for us and allowed us to make a move in the standings. They did a great job of competing. Mauro Castillo was clutch for us, getting in the Championship final of the 100 breast for the first time. It was a great swim by him and makes me excited to see how he'll be in the 200 breaststroke on Saturday. It's a typical NCAA meet with every team fighting for every point and I'm excited to see how we finish tomorrow."
Aggie trio shines in the 3m dive:
Three Aggies earned honorable mention All-America recognition and combined to score 15 points in the three-meter dive. Junior Sam Thornton led the way with a 10th place finish with a 396.35 point total. Freshman Kurtis Mathews turned in a 12th place effort with a 394.30 score and senior Tyler Henschel chipped in a 14th place finish with 376.60 points.
Castillo Luna matches his school record in 100 breast:
Senior Mauro Castillo Luna earned first-team All-America honors in the 100-yard breaststroke with an eighth-place finish in the race. Castillo Luna, who was 10th last season, matched his own school record from the SEC Championships with a 52.11 clocking.
Aggies in Saturday's prelims:
Top 20 Teams in the Standings:
| 1 | Indiana | 325 |
| 2 | Texas | 306 |
| 3 | California | 291.5 |
| 4 | NC State | 252 |
| 5 | Florida | 246 |
| 6 | USC | 181 |
| 7 | Stanford | 165 |
| 8 | Louisville | 118.5 |
| 9 | Michigan | 101.5 |
| 10 | Georgia | 98 |
| 11 | Tennessee | 97 |
| 12 | Alabama | 61 |
| 13 | Auburn | 56.5 |
| 14 | Texas A&M | 45 |
| 14 | Arizona State | 45 |
| 16 | Harvard | 44 |
| 17 | South Carolina | 41.5 |
| 18 | Arizona | 38 |
| 18 | Purdue | 38 |
| 20 | Minnesota | 35 |
Head Coach Jay Holmes said:
"The divers were awesome with all three scoring in the consolation final. That was a big point swing for us and allowed us to make a move in the standings. They did a great job of competing. Mauro Castillo was clutch for us, getting in the Championship final of the 100 breast for the first time. It was a great swim by him and makes me excited to see how he'll be in the 200 breaststroke on Saturday. It's a typical NCAA meet with every team fighting for every point and I'm excited to see how we finish tomorrow."
Aggie trio shines in the 3m dive:
Three Aggies earned honorable mention All-America recognition and combined to score 15 points in the three-meter dive. Junior Sam Thornton led the way with a 10th place finish with a 396.35 point total. Freshman Kurtis Mathews turned in a 12th place effort with a 394.30 score and senior Tyler Henschel chipped in a 14th place finish with 376.60 points.
Castillo Luna matches his school record in 100 breast:
Senior Mauro Castillo Luna earned first-team All-America honors in the 100-yard breaststroke with an eighth-place finish in the race. Castillo Luna, who was 10th last season, matched his own school record from the SEC Championships with a 52.11 clocking.
Aggies in Saturday's prelims:
- 200 backstroke - none
- 100 freestyle - none
- 200 breaststroke - Mauro Castillo Luna, Jonathan Tybur, Tanner Olson, Ben Walker, Austin Van Overdam
- 200 butterfly - Angel Martinez, Brock Bonetti
- 400 freestyle relay - none
- Platform dive - Tyler Henschel, Sam Thornton
- 1,650 freestyle - none