Rockford's Camden Taylor and the Texas Longhorns capture another NCAA Championship

The junior swimmer helped lead the Longhorns to their 17th national title in men's swimming.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Rockford East graduate Camden Taylor and his Texas Longhorns teammates are celebrating another national championship, winning the NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championship in Atlanta. This is the second straight national title for Texas, and the 17th in the school's history in men's swimming. Taylor, a junior, claimed a national championship as part of Texas' 800-yard freestyle relay team and earned All-American honors for his performances in the 400 medley relay and other events.

Why it matters

Taylor's success at the NCAA level continues a strong swimming tradition from Rockford, Illinois, where he set multiple state and conference records during his high school career at Guilford. His contributions to the powerhouse Texas program solidify the Longhorns' dominance in men's collegiate swimming.

The details

At the NCAA Championships, Taylor was part of the Texas 800-yard freestyle relay team that took first place, earning him a national title. He also finished second as part of the Longhorns' 400 medley relay squad, setting a new school record time of 2:57.22. Individually, Taylor competed in the 200 freestyle, where he placed 20th, and the 200 IM, where he finished 22nd.

  • The NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championship took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
  • Taylor won a state championship in the 100 freestyle and set NIC-10 records in every swimming event during his high school career at Guilford in Rockford, Illinois.

The players

Camden Taylor

A junior swimmer at the University of Texas and a graduate of Rockford East High School in Illinois, where he was a dominant swimmer and set multiple state and conference records.

Texas Longhorns

The men's swimming and diving team at the University of Texas, which has won 17 NCAA championships, including the 2026 title that Camden Taylor helped secure.

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What they’re saying

“Winning another national championship is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. Camden has been a key contributor to our success, and we're proud of what he's accomplished.”

— Eddie Reese, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

What’s next

The Texas Longhorns will look to defend their NCAA title again next year, with Camden Taylor expected to play a prominent role as a senior.

The takeaway

Camden Taylor's continued excellence at the NCAA level highlights the strong swimming tradition in Rockford, Illinois, and the Longhorns' sustained dominance in men's collegiate swimming.