Matthew Judkins doesn’t view challenges like many — he sees them as opportunities, and sometimes he doesn’t even acknowledge them.
Coming out of high school, Judkins was undefeated. He won six total state championships in the 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard individual medley and the 400-yard free relay with Chaminade College Prep. Judkins became the first male high school swimmer in the history of Missouri to win two events in both Class 1 and Class 2.
Yet once he came to Mizzou, he wasn’t first in command. Judkins’ best event, the 100-yard butterfly, is owned by senior Jan Zubik, who has qualified for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in the event for two straight years.
However, Judkins has never viewed this as a challenge. Instead, he learns from Zubik, seeing him as a mentor.
“He’s a machine, and I hate to lose him next year,” Judkins said. “Him bringing me up, showing me how to train, showing me how to race in dual meets, no matter what, it’s been inspiring.”
Since he competed in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly races alongside Zubik, Judkins never got a first-place finish in his freshman year despite finishing the season with a Top-20 200-yard butterfly time in the Southeastern Conference Championships.
“Me and Jan go one, two, in most meets,” Judkins said, “I consider that a win as well.”
Judkins’ first collegiate win came Oct. 18 in his sophomore year opener in the 200-yard butterfly.
To get to where he is now, Judkins credits Zubik.
“I worked and trained hard, no matter what, kinda used that Jan mentality,” Judkins said.
The journey as a freshman, placing and scoring at the SEC championships, wasn’t easy, and a younger Judkins would’ve been more terrified than excited.
Growing up in the St. Louis area, Judkins chose the Tigers as his collegiate destination after countless visits as a kid.
“Seeing these guys get up and race was a little terrifying,” Judkins said. “To know now I am a contender for these top spots on Mizzou’s program, it means a lot.”
For a sophomore who has accomplished so much, already becoming one of the top swimmers on the team, Judkins is already looking ahead to the NCAA Championships.
At the start of the season, something stood in the way: the new win-and-in model. Any swimmer who wins a conference title and has a qualifying time will automatically get a bid, which will take many spots away.
Judkins isn’t fazed by this obstacle.
“That kind of limits the number of spots they get … It scares a lot of people,” Judkins said. “I’m not scared, I’m just ready to embrace the challenge.”
The future doesn’t faze Judkins; competition isn’t a problem, and he embraces the end goal.
“I’m ready to take the next step with this team, and I have no intention of changing that goal,” Judkins said.
