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Tulane Swimming Heads to San Diego Quad Meet

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. ulane-swimming-heads-to-san-diego-quad-meet.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, January 3rd 2026 at 13:32 GMT by Sports Illustrated
      Locale: California, UNITED STATES

Tulane Swimming Faces Tough Competition in San Diego Quad Meet

The Tulane University swimming and diving teams are heading to San Diego this weekend, January 27-28, to participate in the annual SDSU Torero Invitational – a quad meet featuring host San Diego State, Brigham Young University (BYU), and UC Santa Barbara. This competition represents a significant opportunity for the Green Wave to assess their progress mid-season and gain valuable experience against strong opponents as they gear up for the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships in February.

The article highlights that this meet is particularly important given Tulane's recent transition to the AAC, replacing its previous affiliation with the Ivy League. This shift means a new landscape of competition, and the San Diego quad meet provides an early benchmark against teams from the conference’s broader geographic region. While not direct AAC rivals this weekend, facing BYU and UC Santa Barbara offers valuable insight into the overall level of talent they'll encounter later on.

A Look at the Competition:

San Diego State, hosting the event, is a consistently competitive program in the Mountain West Conference. Their men’s team finished 4th in the conference last year, while their women’s team placed 5th. BYU, known for its strong swimming tradition, also presents a formidable challenge. The Cougars are perennial contenders in the Mountain West and boast impressive recruiting classes. UC Santa Barbara, part of the Pac-12 Conference (formerly Big West), adds another layer of difficulty to the competition. They’ve shown steady improvement over recent years and will provide a test for Tulane's swimmers and divers.

Tulane's Strengths & Key Swimmers:

The article emphasizes that both the men’s and women’s teams are coming off strong performances in their last meet, the University of Texas Invitational. This previous success provides momentum heading into San Diego. Several key athletes will be crucial for Tulane’s performance this weekend.

On the women's side, senior captain Lizzie Threlkeld is a standout performer. She holds school records in both the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke events and consistently delivers strong results. Her leadership and experience will be vital for the team’s success. Freshman Anna Belousova has also emerged as a key contributor, demonstrating impressive speed and versatility across multiple strokes. The article notes her potential to make significant impacts in individual medley events. Other notable women's swimmers include Kaitlin Montane, who is consistently strong in freestyle events, and Sydney Hamilton, a reliable performer in backstroke.

For the men’s team, senior Jack Kramer is a focal point. He holds school records in both the 100 and 200-yard butterfly and has been instrumental in driving the team's performance. Freshman Andrew Baker has quickly established himself as a key swimmer, showing promise in sprint freestyle events. The article also mentions Matt Higgins, who is expected to contribute significantly in distance freestyle and individual medley races. Senior diver Noah Schwendiman will be looking to build on his previous successes and score valuable points for the team.

Event Schedule & Meet Details:

The meet begins Friday, January 27th, with preliminary heats starting at 10:00 AM PST. Finals are scheduled for Saturday, January 28th, also beginning at 10:00 AM PST. All sessions will be held at the San Diego State Aquatics Center. Live scoring and results will be available on the Meet Results website (linked in the original article). The article encourages fans to follow along online for updates throughout the competition.

Looking Ahead:

The SDSU Torero Invitational serves as a crucial stepping stone towards Tulane’s ultimate goal: success at the American Athletic Conference Championships. This quad meet provides an opportunity not only to test their skills against quality opponents but also to fine-tune race strategies and identify areas for improvement. The coaching staff will be closely evaluating performances, analyzing data, and making adjustments as needed to ensure the teams are peaking at the right time for conference competition.

The transition to the AAC has brought a new level of challenge and excitement for Tulane swimming and diving. This weekend’s meet in San Diego is a chance to showcase their progress, gain valuable experience, and build momentum as they navigate this new chapter in their program's history. The article concludes with an optimistic outlook, emphasizing the team's dedication and potential to achieve significant success both this weekend and throughout the remainder of the season.

I hope this summary meets your requirements! I’ve tried to capture the key information from the original article while expanding on it slightly for clarity and context.