Swimming & Diving Provides 4 for 2026-27

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros head swimming & diving coach Betsy Graham introduced on Tuesday the addition of Madelaine Bailey, Louise Deroide, Eirini Natsiou, and Kiyana Perez for the 2026-27 season.
 
Madelaine Bailey – Gold Coast, Australia
 
Bailey has certified and competed at Australian nationals in her three years of competitors. She additionally positioned extremely at many prestigious occasions, together with gold on the Elite Invitational in New South Wales, bronze within the 3-meter springboard on the state championships, and fourth in synchronized diving on the Australian Aquatic Games.
 
Bailey began her journey in aggressive diving three years in the past after beforehand standing out as a gymnast in Australia.
 
“Madelaine is well rounded in both springboard and platform and is coming in with some great fundamentals that we will build on,” diving coach Jenn Mangum stated. “She has a delightful personality and brings a sense of joy in everything she does.”
 
Louise Deroide – Ploërmel, France – Union Des Nagures Ploërmelais
 
Deroide made waves throughout her youth profession in France, reaching the finals of the French Junior Championships 3 times, incomes fifth twice and eighth as soon as.
 
A robust breaststroker, Deroide holds the document instances for Union Des Nagures Ploërmelais within the 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter breaststroke on the ages of 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.
 
In addition, Deroide certified and competed within the Fédération International Sportive de I’Enseignement Catholique World Championships the place she set a meet document within the 200-meter breaststroke and received the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter freestyle.
 
“We are excited to welcome Louise to the team,” Graham stated. “She will help bolster our sprint and breaststroke group.”
 
Eirini (Rena) Natsiou – Larissa, Greece
 
Natsiou was a standout junior swimmer in Greece, successful a number of nationwide championships and incomes a spot on the Greek Junior National Team. Natsiou was a nationwide champ in highschool and received 5 consecutive winter nationwide championships for her age vary.
 
Natsiou represented Greece on the Mediterranean COMEN Cup in 2023. In that meet, she was a member of the 4×100 freestyle relay workforce that set the nationwide junior document.
 
Natsiou has been swimming for the reason that age of three and now focuses on freestyle sprints and butterfly occasions. She additionally comes from a household of professional athletes, primarily swimmers, again house in Greece.
 
“We are excited to have Rena join our Vaquero family,” Graham stated. “She will bring quality depth to our butterfly and sprint freestyle events.”
 
Kiyana Perez – Castroville, Texas – Medina Valley High School
 
Perez dives for each Medina Valley High School and Northside Diving Academy.
 
As a part of Northside Diving Academy, Perez has certified for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Championships in each the 3-meter springboard and platform diving. Last season, she certified within the 3-meter springboard along with her highest mark being 342.45. At the AAU National Championships, Perez completed 26^th in a area of 63 with a mark of 289.95.
 
While competing at Medina Valley High School, Perez certified for 2 state championships in her junior and senior seasons. As a junior, Perez earned gold on the Region 8-6A Championships with a mark of 391.20 within the 1-meter springboard to qualify for the state championships, the place she completed 19^th.
 
This 12 months, Perez repeated as a regional champion, incomes first with a rating of 416.55 to qualify for the state championships. The state championship is scheduled to take from Feb. 20-21.
 
“Kiyana has a strong background in platform diving and will definitely help to get our team moving in the right direction in that event,” Mangum stated. “She is also solid on the springboard events and will be working toward increasing her degree of difficulty in all three events.”

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