No. 12/7 Cardinals Win SMU Classic

Saturday, October 11

Dallas, TX

11:00 am

University of Louisville

SMU Classic

October 11, 2025 | Swimming & Diving

Millard, Helmboldt and Herkle Win Meet MVP honors

By: Nancy Worley

DALLAS -- The No. 12/7 University of Louisville men's and women's swimming and diving team won the SMU Classic with Kim Herkle and Jackson Millard being named Swimmers of the Meet and Sammantha Helmboldt being voted Diver of the Meet.

On the final day of racing, the Cardinals won nine events enroute to the championship. The event features each team bringing eight swimmers and one diver. Each swimmer may swim a total of six events, but at least one of those must be a relay. Each team enters one swimmer per heat, and the team's best swimmer must be in the championship heat.

The women won the 200 medley relay to start the morning off, combining for a 1:35.83 put up by Julie Mishler (24.38), Caroline Larsen (26.96), Ella Welch (23.22) and Julia Dennis (21.27). The men touched second when the foursome of Jackson Millard (21.56), Finnley Conklin (23.86), Rian Graham (20.34) and Nikita Sheremet (18.92) combined for a time of 1:24.68.

Louisville's Daria Golovaty won the 500 free by almost five seconds, turning in a 4:44.89 with Summer Cardwell winning her heat with a 4:46.62. UofL's Gregg Enoch turned in a 4:26.38 for fourth and Oscar Isberg was second in his heat with at 4:18.30.

Kim Herkle won the 200 breast, clocking in at 2:10.53 and Ella Welch easily won her heat almost seven seconds ahead of the field with a 2:13.60. Jake Eccleston touched second in the men's 200 breast, going 1:55.98 in a tightly contested finish. Freshman Finnley Conklin won the second heat with a 1:57.78.

Xeniya Ignatova touched second in the 200 back for the UofL women, stopping the clock at 1:55.67 and Julie Mishler was second in her heat with a 1:56.63. Jackson Millard won the 200 back for the Louisville men with a time of 1:41.39 and Guy Brooks was second in his heat, posting a time of 1:43.91.

Sammantha Helmboldt won the 1M springboard, posting a score of 274.50 and Mack Malloy was fourth with a 309.65 for the men on the 3M board.

Julia Dennis won the 100 freestyle for UofL with a 47.52 and her UofL teammate Caroline Larsen won her heat with a 47.95. Guy Brooks was second in the men's 100 free with a 42.99 and Nikita Sheremet won his heat with a 43.17.

In the 200 butterfly, Summer Cardwell was the top Card finisher with a third place time of 1:59.59. Daria Golovaty touched second in her heat with a time of 2:02.34. Gregg Enoch powered to the wall for the UofL men with the winning time of 1:44.58. Rian Graham was first in his heat with a 1:44.76.

In the 200 IM, Kim Herkle notched her third win of the day with the time of 1:59.79, the only sub-two minute swim of the field. Xeniya Ignatova won her heat with a 2:02.02. Jackson Millard had his second win of the day with a 1:44.79 for UofL. Teammate Jake Eccleston was second in his heat with a 1:49.22.

In the final event of the meet, the UofL women won the 200 free relay with a time of 1:27.49 put up by Caroline Larsen (21.85), Julia Dennis (21.43), Julie Mishler 22.00 and Ella Welch (22.21). The men touched third, clocking in at 1:18.58 put up by Nikita Sheremet (19.65), Guy Brooks (19.41), Rian Graham (19.78) and an anchor of 19.74 by Oscar Isberg.

Men's Final Scores
1. No. 12 Louisville – 313
2. No. 20 Auburn – 304
3. #14 LSU – 240
4. Drury – 223
5. RV SMU – 221

Women's Final Scores
1. No. 7 Louisville – 358
2. No. 21 LSU – 278
3.No. 20 Auburn – 248
4. Drury – 201
5. SMU -- 207

There was only a championship heat for relays. The consolation heat was swum before the championship heat for individual event, and an athlete could only score in the heat they are entered in. Divers will compete on 1- and 3-meter. Scoring will be as follows: Individual: 14-11-10-9-8-6-4-3-2-1 and Relays: 28-22-20-18-16.

Jackson Millard and Kim Herkle pose with their MVP Trophies