RIO GRANDE VALLEY – With The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) gearing up for its inaugural women's swimming & diving season next year, the Vaqueros will once again be co-hosting the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Swimming & Diving Championships with the city of Pharr at the City of Pharr Natatorium Wednesday through Saturday.
 
Each day of competition is split into two sessions, with the first session starting at 10:30 a.m. and the second session starting at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the second session will start at 3 p.m. and will conclude with a trophy presentation at approximately 9 p.m. A detailed schedule of events can be found at WACsports.com.
 
Fans can purchase tickets online at GoUTRGV.com/Tickets. All-session passes cost $40 for adults and $30 for children under the age of 18. Single-day tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children under the age of 18. Doors will open one hour before the scheduled start of each session.
 
Tickets will be available to purchase in-person at the natatorium via credit card starting one hour before the start of each session. All students enrolled in WAC institutions such as UTRGV at the time of the event will receive free admission with a student ID.
 
For fans that aren't able to attend in person, all four days of competition will be broadcast worldwide via ESPN+ and WAC International.
 
"The ability to host two WAC Championship-level events this year, including tennis in April, is a significant feather in our cap," UTRGV Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications & Championships Jonah Goldberg said. "We are focused on providing the best possible experience for fans from both the Valley and all over as well as WAC student-athletes, coaches, and staff."
 
Hosting the event this year highlights UTRGV's commitment to women's swimming & diving as the competition is being hosted during a stretch that includes five home baseball games, two home basketball games, and one home tennis match in addition to two basketball games and one tennis match on the road.
 
Beyond to the competition itself, the region will receive added benefits as over 600 student-athletes, coaches, and staff from Air Force, California Baptist, Grand Canyon, Idaho, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Seattle U, UNLV, Utah Tech, and Wyoming will be experiencing the best the Valley has to offer in accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment.
 
"There are a lot of reasons why we host events like this, but it always comes back to the community and our commitment to #RallyTheValley," Goldberg continued. "We want to consistently bring the best college athletics has to offer to the Rio Grande Valley. These championships will serve as a springboard into our first year of competition in women's swimming & diving in 2024-25."
 
The Rio Grande Valley is home to an active swimming & diving community, with approximately 10 aquatic centers scattered throughout the region, that will have the opportunity to experience NCAA Division I level competition.
 
The search for UTRGV's inaugural head coach is underway, and when paired with one of the top facilities in NCAA Division I, UTRGV has the potential to become a premier destination for swimming and diving student-athletes.
 
"What we have here is a blank canvas for a coach to come in and make their mark on the sport, the university, and the region," UTRGV Vice President & Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. "The Rio Grande Valley is quickly becoming a destination for swimming & diving and there is the potential for our area to become a hub for winter training activity."

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