ABILENE, Texas (October 6, 2024) – The 2024-25 University of Texas Permian Basin men's and women's swimming & diving seasons got underway on Friday and Saturday with a double dual meet against Adams State University and host McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

The victories were decisive for the UTPB men's team as the Falcons bested ASU 217-63 and topped McMurry by a score of 226-64.

The Falcon men soared over their competition by winning 14 of the 16 events.

There were a lot of great swims across the board.

Freshman Jake Shelton left no doubt while winning races in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle while junior Owen Putnam tied for first in the 50 freestyle, won the 200 IM and came in a close second to teammate Zane Garner in the 100 backstroke.

On the diving boards, freshman Brendan Twomey finished in first place in both events.

The Falcons' women's team faced some tough competition, but in the end, it was two wins for UTPB, which defeated ASU 134-113 and McMurry 160-95.

Rowan McWhorter and Emma Gerhart swept their individual events. McWhorter won the 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. Gerhart won the 50 butterfly, 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle.

Kathe Hepfer and Camilla Aguilar went 1-2 in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events.
 
Men's First-Place Finishes:
200 medley relay – Zane Garner, Brannan Espericueta, Tommy Betancour, Colin Doyle – 1:37.53
1000 freestyle – Evan Siegrist – 10:05.55
200 freestyle – Jake Shelton – 1:44.16
50 backstroke – Zane Garner – 25.26
100 butterfly – Colin Doyle – 52.26
50 freestyle – Nathan Powell & Owen Putnam – 22.57
1-meter dive – Brendan Twomey – 223.35
100 freestyle – Jake Shelton – 47.72
100 backstroke – Zane Garner – 55.32
500 freestyle – Jake Shelton – 4:47.63
50 butterfly – Szymon Gilzynski – 23.52
3-meter dive – Brendan Twomey – 227.85
200 IM – Owen Putnam – 2:00.39
400 freestyle relay – Szymon Gilzynski, Brannan Espericueta, Jake Shelton, Ivan Torres – 3:16.48
 
Women's First-Place Finishes:
50 breaststroke – Rowan McWhorter – 32.96
100 butterfly – Emma Gerhart – 1:04.41
1-meter dive – Kathe Hepfer – 201.45
100 breaststroke – Rowan McWhorter – 1:12.71
500 freestyle – Emma Gerhart – 5:41.69
50 butterfly – Emma Gerhart – 29.33
3-meter dive – Kathe Hepfer – 202.10
200 IM – Rowan McWhorter – 2:19.17
 
UTPB will head to Arkansas at the end of the month to take on Henderson State University on Thursday, October 24, followed by the Hendrix Relays on Friday, October 25, and the and Hendrix Classic on Saturday, October 26.

Results