Preview: Texas Women to Face Cal and Stanford This Weekend

CAL VS. TEXAS

• Hosted by University of California
• Friday, November 11th
• 25 yards
• Dual meet format

The Texas women will take on a tough schedule this weekend, facing Cal and Stanford in a pair of back-to-back dual meets on the road. Their first dual meet will be with Cal, which will take place at 2pm P.T. on Friday. Read on for a look at a few of the big races to come.

One of the key matchups in this meet will come in the backstroke races, where Texas’ Claire Adams and Tasija Karosas might be taking on Cal’s Kathleen Baker and Amy Bilquist. Adams, a freshman, is the former Junior World Record holder in the 100 back, while Karosas is a 2-time Olympic Trials semifinalist. Cal’s Bilquist was the Pac-12 champion in the 200 back last season, and Baker was a silver medalist in the 100 back at the Rio Olympics.

Remedy Rule and Lauren Case have been a strong duo in the butterflies for Texas so far this season. On Friday, they’ll face the likes of Farida Osman, Katie McLaughlin, and Noemie Thomas. In addition to the 100 fly, Osman is also a major player in the sprint frees, where she and teammate Abbey Weitzeil, a 2016 Olympic relay medalist, will take on Texas’ Rebecca Millard and Mimi Schneider.

The Longhorns will likely be capitalizing on their breaststrokers, IMers, and distance freestylers at this meet. Madisyn Cox and Olivia Anderson should give the team a boost in the breaststrokes, with Cox being a likely contributor in IM as well. In the 500 free and 1000 free, Joanna Evans is a big threat to take wins.

STANFORD VS. TEXAS

• Hosted by Stanford University
• Saturday, November 12th
• 25 yards
• Dual meet format

Following their dual against Cal, the Longhorns will return to the pool on Saturday for a dual meet against Stanford at 12pm P.T.

Katie Ledecky‘s reputation precedes her, and when you throw Katie Drabot into the mix as well it’s needless to say how tough the Cardinal distance lineup can be. The Longhorns have Bahamian Olympian Joanna Evans on their side to bring in points in those races, as well as Big 12 champ Quinn Carrozza.

The backstrokes should be fun to watch at this meet as well, with Tasija Karosas and Claire Adams racing Pac-12 champ Ally Howe and All-American Janet Hu. Stanford will also be tough in the sprint freestyles, sending out Simone Manuel and Lia Neal to race Texas Rebecca Millard and Mimi Schneider.

The breaststrokers will likely be key for Texas again when they go up against Stanford. If the Cardinal has a weak spot, it’s depth in the breaststrokes, but even there they have Ella Eastin as an option. That sets up an opportunity for multiple battles between Eastin and Madisyn Cox in the breast and IM races.