University of Tennessee Athletics
Four Top 10 Program Marks Highlight Season Opening Meet at Texas
October 24, 2025 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Tennessee Swimming and Diving program opened the 2025-26 season at Texas in the Lee and Joe Jamil Texas Swimming Center. The #4 Lady Vols dropped their dual with #2 Texas 51-135, while the men fell in their contest with #1 Texas 65-120.
Senior Gui Caribe was a part of three wins at the meet. Caribe was joined by Pedro Sansone, Nikoli Blackman, and Kamal Muhammad as the group took first in the 200 Free Relay. The team finished with a time 1:16.19, setting the seventh-fastest time in the event in program history. Caribe earned first place finishes in both the 50 and 100 Free, capping a strong start to his season. He was joined on the podium in the 100 Free by Nikoli Blackman who earned second place.
Eight-time SEC gold medalist Camille Spink got her season started off well, with the junior picking up her first win of the season in the 50 Free with a time of 21.43. Spink would also take second place in the 100 Free, finishing the event with a time of 47.07.
Three-time SEC medalist McKenzie Siroky also put in a strong performance in her first meet of the year, finishing in first place in the 100 Breast. Ella Jansen had a productive meet. The sophomore earned a trio of second place finishes in the 200 Fly, 200 Free, and 400 IM. Her time of 1:43.48 in the 200 Free set the tenth-fastest time in program history.
Gabe Nunziata got his first action in his Tennessee career, with the freshman setting the fifth-fastest time in the program history with a time of 1:53.62. Koby Bujak-Upton etched his name in the program record books as well, setting the sixth-best time in the 200 Free for the men's side of 1:33.45.
Up next the Vols and Lady Vols return to Knoxville, hosting Louisville and Auburn next week on Oct. 30.
Women's Results
Men's Results
Top-10 Times
5th: Gabe Nunziata (200 Breast): 1:53.62
6th: Koby Bujak-Upton (200 Free): 1:33.45
7th: Gui Caribe, Pedro Sansone, Nikoli Blackman, Kamal Muhammad (200 Free Relay) - 1:16.19
10th: Ella Jansen (200 Free): 1:43.48
Senior Gui Caribe was a part of three wins at the meet. Caribe was joined by Pedro Sansone, Nikoli Blackman, and Kamal Muhammad as the group took first in the 200 Free Relay. The team finished with a time 1:16.19, setting the seventh-fastest time in the event in program history. Caribe earned first place finishes in both the 50 and 100 Free, capping a strong start to his season. He was joined on the podium in the 100 Free by Nikoli Blackman who earned second place.
Eight-time SEC gold medalist Camille Spink got her season started off well, with the junior picking up her first win of the season in the 50 Free with a time of 21.43. Spink would also take second place in the 100 Free, finishing the event with a time of 47.07.
Three-time SEC medalist McKenzie Siroky also put in a strong performance in her first meet of the year, finishing in first place in the 100 Breast. Ella Jansen had a productive meet. The sophomore earned a trio of second place finishes in the 200 Fly, 200 Free, and 400 IM. Her time of 1:43.48 in the 200 Free set the tenth-fastest time in program history.
Gabe Nunziata got his first action in his Tennessee career, with the freshman setting the fifth-fastest time in the program history with a time of 1:53.62. Koby Bujak-Upton etched his name in the program record books as well, setting the sixth-best time in the 200 Free for the men's side of 1:33.45.
Up next the Vols and Lady Vols return to Knoxville, hosting Louisville and Auburn next week on Oct. 30.
Women's Results
- Emily Brown got her season started off with a second place finish in the 100 Fly. The sophomore put up a strong time in the event, finishing with a time of 52.79. Brown also earned a third place finish in the 200 Fly, finishing with a time of 1:55.21
- Desharne Bent-Ashmeil made her debut for the Lady Vols in Austin. The London, England-native earned podiums in both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard competitions. Bent-Ashmeil earned second place in the 1-meter with a score of 291.30, while finishing in third in the 3-meter competition with a 316.35.
- Sophie Brison picked up a podium in Austin, finishing in third place in the 200 Back with a time of 1:54.73.
- Freshman Alyssa Claiborn made her debut for the Lady Vols, finishing the 100 Back timing 53.18 to place third.
- Emelie Fast earned a second place finish in the 200 Breast and a third place finish in the 100 Breast. Fast's 200 Breast time came in at 2:11.54, while finishing the 100 Breast event with a time of 59.90.
- Lynae Shorter began her junior campaign with a second place finish in the 3-meter springboard with a score 323.48.
Men's Results
- Martin Espernberger got his 2025-26 started with a first place finish in the 200 Fly with a time of 1:41.86.
- Ben Bricca picked up a second place finish in the 100 Back to kickoff his season. The sophomore finished the event with a time of 46.77
- Kamal Muhammad made his debut for the Vols on Friday. Muhammad earned a podium in the 100 Fly with a time of 46.17, while also earning podium finishes as part of the 200 Free and 200 Medley Relay teams.
- Frazer Tavener also had his debut for the Vols, finishing in second place in the 3-meter Springboard with a score of 407.70.
Top-10 Times
5th: Gabe Nunziata (200 Breast): 1:53.62
6th: Koby Bujak-Upton (200 Free): 1:33.45
7th: Gui Caribe, Pedro Sansone, Nikoli Blackman, Kamal Muhammad (200 Free Relay) - 1:16.19
10th: Ella Jansen (200 Free): 1:43.48
Players Mentioned
Diving
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Back
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Free/Fly/IM
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Breast/IM
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Free/Fly/IM
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Fly/Free
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Breast/IM
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Diving
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Breast/Free
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Free/Back
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Diving
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