Owls Announce Eight Newcomers for the 2026-27 Season

HOUSTON – Rice Swim and Dive head coach Seth Huston introduced the signing of eight student-athletes to the 2026-27 class.

Angelica Mom, Olivia Aarseth, Camryn Jones, Winnie Liu, Lauren Cochran, Brianna Gough and transfers Eva McIver-Jenkins and Elizabeth Woollcott will be a part of the Owls within the fall.

“We are really excited to welcome these young ladies to our program,” Huston mentioned. “They impressed our team with their passion for excellence in the classroom and in the pool. Now, we will help them develop that same passion for Rice and for this team. Hats off to our entire staff for working together to build this class.”

Mom joins the Owls from Walnut, California, the place she competed for La Mirada Armada. She makes a speciality of mid-distance freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Her private bests embrace 1:59.81 within the 200 butterfly, 10:05.73 within the 1,000 freestyle and 4:56.60 within the 500 freestyle.

“Rice has one of the most welcoming and supportive atmospheres I’ve ever seen,” Mom mentioned. “I can’t wait to build new relationships and connections not only with the program, coaches and athletes, but with the rest of the faculty and students at Rice as a student-athlete!”

Jones involves Rice from Warminster, Pennsylvania, the place she swam for Germantown Academy Aquatic Club. A distance specialist, she holds private bests of 16:56.88 within the 1,650 freestyle, 10:06.40 within the 1,000 freestyle and 4:55.96 within the 500 freestyle.

 

“I am so excited to join the supportive environment, not just on the Rice swim team but also at the school,” Jones mentioned. “I am looking forward to being surrounded by girls who foster a strong team culture and push everyone to their goals!”

 

Liu, a local of Richmond, Texas, swam for First Colony Swim Team. She makes a speciality of dash freestyle and butterfly. Her private bests embrace 1:48.38 within the 200 freestyle, 50.41 within the 100 freestyle and a couple of:02.98 within the 200 butterfly.

 

“I’m excited to be part of a team that supports one another while striving for excellence,” Liu mentioned. “Rice’s elite athletics, academics, and collaborative culture make it the perfect next chapter.”

 

Cochran joins the Owls from Katy, Texas, the place she competed for Katy Aquatics and focuses on mid-distance freestyle. She holds private bests of 1:49.35 within the 200 freestyle, 4:55.40 within the 500 freestyle and 50.37 within the 100 freestyle.

 

“What excites me most about Rice is its close-knit, hardworking community,” Cochran mentioned. “The team culture and supportive atmosphere left a lasting impression on me, and I’m so excited for the opportunities ahead at Rice.”

Gough, from West Sacramento, California, competed for UC Davis Aquatics Club and makes a speciality of dash freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Her private bests embrace 1:49.39 within the 200 freestyle, 50.44 within the 100 freestyle and a couple of:00.93 within the 200 backstroke.

 

“I’m most excited for meeting my new teammates and meeting more people,” Gough mentioned. “I look forward to decorating my dorm and making Rice my home.”

McIver-Jenkins is a sophomore switch from Brown and a local of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A graduate of William Penn Charter School, she competes in dash freestyle and butterfly. Her high occasions embrace 50.32 within the 100 freestyle, 54.61 within the 100 butterfly, 1:59.95 within the 200 butterfly and 55.74 within the 100 backstroke.

 

“I am incredibly excited to push myself academically and athletically as an Owl,” McIver-Jenkins mentioned. “It will be awesome to be a part of such a hardworking and passionate team and community!”

Aarseth is a diver from Dallas, Texas. She owns personal-best scores of 318.50 on the 1-meter, 330.95 on the 3-meter and 316.80 on platform. Aarseth certified for the 2025 USA Junior National Championships on the 3-meter and received the platform occasion on the 2025 Houston Hoedown.

“I’m very excited about joining a tightly knit community of supportive athletes and coaches who will help me grow in my career at Rice University,” Aarseth mentioned.

Woollcott is a diver from Rochester Hills, Michigan. She joins Rice from Oakland University, the place she posted personal-best scores of 267.68 on the 1-meter and 263.25 on the 3-meter. She additionally recorded top-10 finishes on the 2026 Horizon League Championships, putting fifth on the 3-meter with a rating of 256.90 and eighth on the 1-meter with a rating of 228.35.

“The opportunity I have been given to be a part of the Rice community can only be described as incredible,” Woollcott mentioned. “Giving me the opportunity to make lifelong relationships with my teammates, while learning from a prestigious staff of coaches and professors. The student body at Rice University embodies excellence, and I am so grateful to be a part of the Rice Owls!”