 "Photo: Paul Chouy; Daily Texan Staff")
Dominance is an understatement when it comes to the Texas men’s swim team and the Big 12 Championship meet. The Horns have won the conference title ever since the Big 12 has existed and have won 29-straight conference titles, including the Southwest Conference days.
Texas looks to continue this winning tradition Wednesday when they compete in the four-day conference meet held in Columbia, Mo.
With the Horns ranked No. 1 in the country, they are favored to come away with yet another Big 12 title. Head coach Eddie Reese isn’t claiming victory just yet.
“I never assume anything,” Reese said. “I always prepare the best lineup. I have seen too many coaches with good teams just assume they will win, and it backfires.”
Reese’s attention to detail showed in the results from last season’s Big 12 Championship in Austin. The Horns finished first in every event and compiled a conference-record score of 1,129, blowing away Texas A&M and Missouri.
Reese says the Aggies will present more of a challenge this year, but when the Longhorns faced them earlier this year they won 10 of 11 events. The Aggies’ lone victory came in the 3-meter diving event.
Despite the dominating victory, Reese insists on not overlooking the Aggies.
“This is one of the best teams Texas A&M has had,” Reese said. “And I haven’t got a chance to take a look at Missouri.”
Texas’ main concern for this week’s meet is to have as many swimmers as possible make their qualifying times for nationals. Winning this meet would extend Texas’ conference dominance to 30 in a row.
