Owls Dominate Double Up Meet to Open 2026

Houston – Rice closed out the house portion of its 2025-26 schedule in dominate style, sweeping each occasion in an unscored meet in opposition to St. Thomas on Saturday on the Rice Competition Pool.

The Owls managed the meet from begin to end, with Ava Portello, Ava Hamblett and Reese Cole every claiming three particular person wins. Siiri Einio, Avery Karacz and Lily Archibald added two victories apiece, whereas Zara Bolton and Bella Zhang additionally recorded occasion wins.

Einio opened the meet with a first-place end within the 50-yard breaststroke, touching the wall in 29.56. Hamblett adopted by successful the 50 backstroke in 26.19, and Bolton captured the 50 butterfly with a time of 25.40.

Cole secured her first victory of the day within the 100 particular person medley (59.39), whereas Karacz gained the 50 freestyle in 24.31. Portello earned her first win within the 500 freestyle, posting a time of 4:55.89, earlier than Einio added one other high end within the 100 breaststroke (1:04.43).

Hamblett collected her second win within the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.91. Archibald gained the 100 butterfly in 56.04, and Cole adopted with a first-place end within the 200 IM (2:07.51).

Karacz topped the sphere within the 100 freestyle (52.80), whereas Portello added a win within the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 10:12.56. Zhang earned first place within the 200 breaststroke (2:21.32), and Hamblett accomplished her trio of victories by successful the 200 backstroke in 2:02.52.

Archibald gained the 200 butterfly (2:06.76), Cole closed her day by taking first within the 400 IM (4:32.81), and Portello capped the meet with a victory within the 200 freestyle, ending in 1:52.32.

The Owls will face the University of Houston on Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. within the CRWC Natatorium.