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Ranking the Classes (W): #9 Texas

Over the past three years Kim Brackin and Jim Henry have established a new standard for the recruitment of women’s collegiate swimming. They’ve been relentless and innovative, much to the chagrin of their rivals. At the same time, they’ve also been impressive to the point that even the recruits they lose speak with of the pair with a tinge of envy and admiration. The result has been an unmatched record of attracting top talent.

Of course all that talent did not play itself out as expected last March when the Longhorns came up well short of expectations. Of course those expectations came from several classes that arrived in Austin with an already-impressive list of achievements. This class doesn’t appear as strong – on paper – as years’ past but it certainly isn’t lacking and with six of the eight signees from the Lone Star state, you can trust that the eyes of Texas are upon them.

Lily Moldenhauer leads the way, having committed over a year ago. The National Junior Teamer held the national high school record in the 100 backstroke before Cindy Tran lopped a second off of it in May. Samantha Tucker is one of the best overall freestylers in the country, though her kick might only be the second-best in her family (brother Justin is a punter for the Longhorns). Cy-Fair’s Ellen Lobb and Catherine Wagner and Dallas’ Marilyn Toledo give Texas a near-sweep of the Longhorn State’s top recruits. Lobb’s been stronger long course but should make the transition while Wagner rocketed up the ranks and is developing into a multi-dimensional threat.

This class seems a bit reminiscent of Brackin’s earliest teams at Auburn and that’s what makes them so interesting. Yes they’re good, but they also have something to prove. That’s a potent mix, one that should cause more consternation to UT’s rivals.

1.04Moldenhauer, LilyTX
1.17Tucker, SamanthaTX
3.40Wagner, CatherineTX
6.39Lobb, EllenTX
7.09McClure, MelanieTX
8.76Ross, LaurenNJ
11.76Toledo, MarylynTX
11.78Brewer, AshleyAZ
#1 Stanford
#2 Arizona
#3 Virginia
#4 Auburn
#5 Tennessee
#6 California
#7 USC
#8 Florida
#9 Texas
#10 Ohio St
#11 SMU
#12 Louisville
#13 Princeton
#14 LSU

#15 Georgia
#16 Indiana

#17 Arkansas
#18 UNC
#19 Alabama

#20 Penn St
#21 Duke
#22 SDSU

#23 Texas A&M
#24 Arizona St
#25 Minnesota

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