Season In Evaluation: Swimming & Diving

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Year two for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) swimming & diving program noticed enchancment, record-setting performances, depth, and a powerful end on the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) championships, hosted by UTRGV on the City of Pharr-PSJA Natatorium.
 
The Vaqueros opened their season with a reunion, visiting UT Permian Basin in early October. Head coach Betsy Graham and diving coach Jenn Mangum loved their homecoming. Alongside the coaches, senior diver and group captain Delaney Murphy and junior Chloe Siegrist returned to the place their collegiate careers began.
 
In that meet, the Vaqueros dominated, successful each occasion en path to a 215-75 victory. Sophomore Manou Meulebeek began the season sturdy, reaching the qualifying commonplace for the NCAA Zone “D” Diving Championships within the 3-meter springboard with a then program report rating of 293.25. Meanwhile, standout newcomers Sarah Bull, Dia Henderson, and Jaydy Jay set the tone for his or her season, incomes two occasion wins apiece.
 
The Vaqueros returned for his or her residence opener, taking over fellow MPSF member, Incarnate Word, the place the advance in depth throughout the pool was simple. Just one yr prior, UTRGV fell to the Cardinals 193-94 of their residence opener; now, a close to 100-point margin was minimize to 63. In that meet, Meulebeek certified for the NCAA Zone “D” Diving Championships within the 1-meter springboard, marking her second-consecutive postseason look in each occasions.
 
UTRGV continued to check themselves all through the autumn, dealing with new squads at invitations just like the Rice Fall Splash, the place they confronted off towards the hosts-Rice, Little Rock, Loyola-New Orleans, and St. Thomas. The Vaqueros trailed Little Rock by just one level after the primary day, however could not overtake the Trojans, ending the invite in third.
 
Trips to West Florida and Bowling Green proved to be studying experiences for the younger UTRGV squad. The Vaqueros scheduled laborious within the fall, decided the waters and their mettle towards among the greatest competitors at these applications respective ranges to assist the Vaqueros put together for the spring and ultimately the convention championships.
 

“I believe fast swimming breeds fast swimming,” UTRGV Head Swimming & Diving Coach Betsy Graham stated. “So, we definitely raced against tough teams, but we really needed to see fast swimming.”
 
The fall ended on a high-note, as record-setting performances by the Vaqueros may very well be discovered throughout the nation. The swimmers competed on the Northwest Collegiate Invite, hosted by Idaho, and the divers traveled to Northern Arizona (NAU) for the annual NAU Diving Invite. At their respective meets, UTRGV set 11 program information alongside a handful of top-eight finishes towards good competitors.
 
Sophomore Annaleagh Stahl set the tone for her spring, incomes a hat trick towards fellow MPSF member New Mexico State, within the common season residence finale and spring opener. This meet was essential and emotional because the Vaqueros celebrated of their first-ever senior day. Three members of the group had been honored throughout the celebration, and 4 crossed the stage on the spring graduation.
 

UTRGV visited Little Rock for a tune-up meet previous to the MPSF Swimming & Diving Championships. Meulebeek as soon as once more shined, setting a facility report and program report 316.95 within the 1-meter springboard. Meulebeek broke the ability report beforehand held by Arkansas’ Maria Sanchez Moreno.
 

The Vaqueros returned to the Valley with their sights set on the MPSF championships, a monumental event for this system and the college. In its first yr within the MPSF, UTRGV was entrusted to host the championships. This was the third convention championships hosted by UTRGV in 4 years, nevertheless it was the primary by which UTRGV Swimming & Diving could be competing.
 

The Valley confirmed out. A complete of 5,635 followers entered the City of Pharr-PSJA Natatorium throughout the four-day championship, averaging over 1,400 per day. The Vaqueros responded, scoring over 271.5 factors as in comparison with the 132 factors scored on the 2025 Western Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships. Once once more, the depth was on show as 13 entries scored factors for UTRGV as in comparison with the seven entries that scored final yr.
 
“It’s very different down here than it is in other places,” Graham stated. “I’ve been to places where hardly anybody comes to meets, and I think this championship was a tribute to the Valley, the curiosity of the swimmers in the area, and our fans.”
 
Meulebeek earned two top-eight finishes, together with a fifth-place efficiency within the 1-meter springboard to open the championships. This consequence was tied for the best particular person end at a convention championship in program historical past. Meulebeek adopted that up with a seventh-place end within the 3-meter springboard on day two. For her efforts, Meulebeek was honored with second group all-conference honors in each the 1- and 3-meter springboard.
 
In the pool, the Vaqueros set 5 program information which included a comfort remaining win for Stahl within the 200 backstroke. The record-setting time of 1:59.80 represented the best particular person for UTRGV swimmers on the championships. Alongside this race, freshman Ellinor Plant set program information within the 1000 freestyle (10:42.62) and 1650 freestyle (17:48.34), junior Olivia Votava set a program report within the 100 butterfly (58.09), and the group of Stahl, freshman Ava Light, Bull, and Henderson set a brand new report within the 400 medley relay (3:55.92).
 
UTRGV’s season resulted in March as Meulebeek traveled to her second NCAA Zone “D” Diving Championships. Meulebeek returned composed, skilled, and able to compete. That drive was evident within the first day as she earned 22^nd within the 1-meter springboard, simply 4 spots away from qualifying for the finals within the occasion. Meulebeek wrapped up her season within the 3-meter springboard, incomes 39^th within the occasion.
 
The Vaqueros closed the 2025-26 season having set 15 program information whereas laying the inspiration for continued progress as they enter yr three.
 
“One of our team goals is to keep building this program to the point that we are in contention for bigger and better things, including conference championships,” Graham stated.

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