COLUMBIA, Ky. – The UT Southern swimming teams opened the 2026-27 season over the weekend at the 14th Annual Dr. Dillery Fall Frenzy, hosted by Lindsey Wilson College at Holloway Natatorium.
The Firehawk men were led by Razvan Iurea, who claimed an individual event title in the 200-yard backstroke with a winning time of 1:53.53. Iurea also posted runner-up finishes in both the 200-yard individual medley (1:58.70) and the 100-yard backstroke (52.87) to headline a strong opening weekend for UT Southern.
Michael McDaniel turned in several notable performances for the Firehawks, placing second in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:09.04 and fourth in the 100-yard butterfly after touching the wall in 54.82.
The men's relay teams also delivered strong results. The quartet of Michael McDaniel, Rafael Gallegos, Janos Kadar, and Razvan Iurea placed third in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 7:31.40. UT Southern's 400-yard freestyle relay team of Isaac Barritt, Michael McDaniel, Janos Kadar, and Iurea secured a fourth-place finish in 3:22.08.
On the women's side, Ronja Hegner paced the Firehawks with a third-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley (2:21.81). Hegner also added a seventh-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (1:04.69) and a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly (2:30.80).
Morgan Brosch recorded an eighth-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:57.51 and later added a fifth-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle (20:51.65). Alexis Milani contributed a 10th-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (2:19.79) while helping the Firehawks score valuable points in relay competition.
UT Southern's women's 800-yard freestyle relay team of Morgan Brosch, Diana Lacal Gracia, Alexis Milani, and Ronja Hegner finished sixth with a time of 9:04.69. The Firehawks also recorded a seventh-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay and an eighth-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
The Firehawks return to action on Oct. 10 when they travel to Sewanee, Tennessee, for the Sewanee Relay Meet.
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