A&M Holds Steady at the Art Adamson Invitational

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 5 Texas A&M men's swimming & diving team continued to dominate through day two, holding steady in first with a score of 1,035 at the Art Adamson Invitational in the Rec Center Natatorium. Alex Sanchez set a breaststroke school record for the second time at the invitational, while Baylor Nelson notched his first individual A-cut of the season and diving dominated on the 3-meter. 
 
The squad of started finals off strong as Thomas Shomper, Sanchez, Connor Foote and Nelson placed first in the 200 medley relay with the fourth-fastest time in program history clocking in at 1:23.83.
 
Nelson notched his second NCAA A cut of the meet in the 400 IM with a time of 3:38.88. Maximiliano Vega Cuevas came in second clocking in at 3:43.19 and Munzy Kabbara rounded out the top three with a 3:46.41. Vincent Ribeiro swam a personal best of 3:45.72 to win the B final with the third-fastest time of the night.
 
Foote and Clayton Conklin both registered personal bests in the 100 fly. Foote recorded the second-fastest time in program history with a 45.02 while Conklin registered the sixth-best time of 46.09, both times qualifying as NCAA B cuts.
 
All four Aggies who competed in the 100 breast earned their career-bests, led by Sanchez who broke the school record with a time of 51.37. Logan Brown was right behind placing third in (52.14), Ribeiro tabbed fourth (53.26) and Lane White finished sixth (53.53).
 
Shomper and Tyler Hulet kept the momentum going as they took the top-two spots in the 100 back, both making the NCAA B cuts. Shomper clocked a 46.21 and Hulet went 46.90 in the event.
 
The men's diving team competed on the 3-meter springboard where Takuto Endo took first, flexing a 425.25, Allen Bottego scored a 410.40 for third place and scoring right below was Victor Povzner with a 394.60 to finish in fourth place.
 
Day two wrapped up with a first-place finish from the 800 free relay team of Nelson, Foote, Vega Cuevas and Trey Dickey clocking in at 6:26.06.

Post Meet Quotes
Head coach Jay Holmes on the team's performance ... 
"The highlights today were our stroke events and, of course, our 3-meter diving. The divers scored really big points again today. Between Allen [Bottego], Takuto [Endo], Victor [Povzner] and Rhett [Hensley], they just seem to trade winning events among them. Today it was Takuto putting together a great list and getting the win.

"We're getting close to rebuilding our medley relays. That 200 medley tonight was fun, but we still have a ways to go in the freestyle relays, tonight's 800 wasn't pretty.

"Alex Sanchez setting our school record in the 100 breast was an exciting event for our team, and going 1-2 in the fly and 1-2-3 in the 400 IM means a lot to us. We're winning events and also showing real depth along the way in most of the events. We've got a chance to be a real good team."
 
UP NEXT
The last day of the Art Adamson Invitational will begin tomorrow, Nov. 17, with prelims at 9:30 a.m. and will be in long course meters. Platform diving finals start at 12 p.m. and will be followed with finals, in short course yards, at 5:30 p.m.
 
Fans will be able to stream finals on SEC Network+ and live results will be available on the Meet Mobile App.
 
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M men's swimming & diving. Fans can keep up to date with the Aggies Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter/X by following @AggieSwimDive 
 
Day Three Art Adamson Invitational Schedule:
 
Friday, November 17 - Watch
9:30 a.m.                     Swimming Prelims
12 p.m.                        Platform Finals
2:30 p.m.                   1650 free
5:30 p.m.                     200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 400 free relay