Crooks, Vols’ 200 Free Relay Bring Home Two National Titles on Night Two of NCAAs
March 28, 2025 | Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – History was made Thursday night, as the Tennessee Vols won two NCAA Championships—a feat that last happened in 1996—during day two of the meet at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center.
"It's hard to express how special it is to have a national champion, and especially at the rate at which swimming is getting faster, to be the best of the best is really extraordinary" Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich said. "Our team is all about relays. We had four men who have been training together and dreaming together all year long. To have them come out on top, it's incredibly special. To have two NCAA titles in one night, that's awesome."
For the second time in his career, Jordan Crooks stood atop the podium in the 50 freestyle, clocking a 17.91 to outpace the next fastest swimmer by 0.32 seconds and once again garnering the title of national champion. He became the fourth Vol in school history to win the event twice, joining all-time great VFLs Andy Coan (1978 & 80), John Trembley (1973-74) and David Edgar (1970-72).
Junior Gui Caribe also made noise in the race, earning his best finish at NCAAs in the event, taking third with an 18.26 effort. That performance moved him into fourth all time and second in school history, dropping 0.18 seconds off his previous personal best. It was the first time since 1979 that two Vols medaled in the 50 free.
The night ended with a bang, as the Tennessee 200 free relay made waves. For the first time in school history, the Vols won the national title in the event thanks to the effort of Crooks, Caribe, Nikoli Blackman and Lamar Taylor. The lineup clocked a 1:12.84 effort, breaking the NCAA Championship meet record.
Crooks opened with a school-record 17.82 split followed a 17.81 effort from Caribe. The duo got the relay off to a hot start, being the only swimmers in the field to go sub-18 seconds. Blackman and Taylor brought the performance home with 18.67 and 18.54 marks. After the day, Tennessee boasts 48 all-time national titles.
In 1-meter diving, Bennett Greene placed 13th overall behind a 350.75 effort, becoming the first Vol diver to finish top 16 in the event since Matthew Wade in 2021 and the first freshman since Wade in 2019. Three of Greene's dives in the consolation final went for more than 60 points. He netted 69 points on a Reverse 2 1/2 Somersault Tuck to rebound from a low-scoring fourth dive.
During the 50 free prelims, freshman Pedro Sansone also threw down a career-best mark, touching the wall in 19.21 to move into seventh.
Team Standings
1. Texas 190
2. California 159.5
3. Indiana 146
4. Tennessee 114
5. Arizona State 111
6. Florida 101
7. Georgia 92
8. NC State 90
9. Stanford 81
10. Michigan 43
All-America Tracker (11)
Nikoli Blackman (200 FR)
Gui Caribe (200 MR, 50 Free, 200 FR)
Jordan Crooks (200 MR, 50 Free 200 FR)
Bennett Greene (1-Meter*)
Kevin Houseman (200 MR)
Lamar Taylor (200 MR, 200 FR)
*Denotes Second Team
Podium Finishes (4)
1st – 50 Free – Jordan Crooks (17.91)
1st – 200 Free Relay – Jordan Crooks, Gui Caribe, Nikoli Blackman, Lamar Taylor (1:12.84)
2nd – 200 Medley Relay – Lamar Taylor, Kevin Houseman, Gui Caribe and Jordan Crooks (1:20.50)
3rd – 50 Free – Gui Caribe (18.23)
Top-10 Times Tracker (3)
1st – 50 Free – Jordan Crooks (17.82)
2nd – 50 Free – Gui Caribe (18.23)
7th – 50 Free – Pedro Sansone (19.21)
"It's hard to express how special it is to have a national champion, and especially at the rate at which swimming is getting faster, to be the best of the best is really extraordinary" Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich said. "Our team is all about relays. We had four men who have been training together and dreaming together all year long. To have them come out on top, it's incredibly special. To have two NCAA titles in one night, that's awesome."
For the second time in his career, Jordan Crooks stood atop the podium in the 50 freestyle, clocking a 17.91 to outpace the next fastest swimmer by 0.32 seconds and once again garnering the title of national champion. He became the fourth Vol in school history to win the event twice, joining all-time great VFLs Andy Coan (1978 & 80), John Trembley (1973-74) and David Edgar (1970-72).
Junior Gui Caribe also made noise in the race, earning his best finish at NCAAs in the event, taking third with an 18.26 effort. That performance moved him into fourth all time and second in school history, dropping 0.18 seconds off his previous personal best. It was the first time since 1979 that two Vols medaled in the 50 free.
The night ended with a bang, as the Tennessee 200 free relay made waves. For the first time in school history, the Vols won the national title in the event thanks to the effort of Crooks, Caribe, Nikoli Blackman and Lamar Taylor. The lineup clocked a 1:12.84 effort, breaking the NCAA Championship meet record.
Crooks opened with a school-record 17.82 split followed a 17.81 effort from Caribe. The duo got the relay off to a hot start, being the only swimmers in the field to go sub-18 seconds. Blackman and Taylor brought the performance home with 18.67 and 18.54 marks. After the day, Tennessee boasts 48 all-time national titles.
In 1-meter diving, Bennett Greene placed 13th overall behind a 350.75 effort, becoming the first Vol diver to finish top 16 in the event since Matthew Wade in 2021 and the first freshman since Wade in 2019. Three of Greene's dives in the consolation final went for more than 60 points. He netted 69 points on a Reverse 2 1/2 Somersault Tuck to rebound from a low-scoring fourth dive.
During the 50 free prelims, freshman Pedro Sansone also threw down a career-best mark, touching the wall in 19.21 to move into seventh.
Team Standings
1. Texas 190
2. California 159.5
3. Indiana 146
4. Tennessee 114
5. Arizona State 111
6. Florida 101
7. Georgia 92
8. NC State 90
9. Stanford 81
10. Michigan 43
All-America Tracker (11)
Nikoli Blackman (200 FR)
Gui Caribe (200 MR, 50 Free, 200 FR)
Jordan Crooks (200 MR, 50 Free 200 FR)
Bennett Greene (1-Meter*)
Kevin Houseman (200 MR)
Lamar Taylor (200 MR, 200 FR)
*Denotes Second Team
Podium Finishes (4)
1st – 50 Free – Jordan Crooks (17.91)
1st – 200 Free Relay – Jordan Crooks, Gui Caribe, Nikoli Blackman, Lamar Taylor (1:12.84)
2nd – 200 Medley Relay – Lamar Taylor, Kevin Houseman, Gui Caribe and Jordan Crooks (1:20.50)
3rd – 50 Free – Gui Caribe (18.23)
Top-10 Times Tracker (3)
1st – 50 Free – Jordan Crooks (17.82)
2nd – 50 Free – Gui Caribe (18.23)
7th – 50 Free – Pedro Sansone (19.21)
Players Mentioned
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back
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