The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) swimming & diving program is ready to make a big splash as it enters year two of competition. 

Head coach Betsy Graham is excited to build off the foundation of its first NCAA Division I season. The Vaqueros experienced lots of milestones last season, sending freshman diver Manou Meulebeek to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, drawing 631 fans to their first dual meet, and competing in their first conference championships. 

"We had a lot of firsts," Graham said. "The first memorable thing was Manou qualifying for the NCAA Zone "D" Diving Championships right off the bat. To do it in the first meet that we had at home, it was great." 

After laying a great foundation in year one, Graham is confident in the team's ability to grow and begin competing in the NCAA Championships and the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championships (NIC). This year, the Vaqueros return 17 student-athletes from last season, including Meulebeek and sophomore Annaleagh Stahl. 

Stahl shined for the Vaqueros at the Western Athletic Conference championships, earning fifth in the 200 backstroke and seventh in the 400 individual medley. Those races represented UTRGV's first top-five and top-eight individual finish at a conference championship. 

Graham looked to plug holes and stack up on talent on the recruiting trail, bringing nine newcomers into the program. The newcomers have turned heads early in the 2025-26 season. 

In the program's annual preseason pentathlon, three of the top five finishers were a part of the most recent recruiting class, including the winner, freshman Sarah Bull, who won two of the five events during the meet. Finishing as runner-up was freshman Jaydy Jay who won the 100 breaststroke. Coming in fourth was freshman Dia Henderson who picked up a big win in the 100 freestyle. 

"I got to see some good things," Graham said. "I felt we had holes, but we plugged them by bringing in new people. I think we're going to be more competitive this year, and we have room to grow." 

The Vaqueros will open the season at UT Permian Basin on Saturday, Oct. 11 at City of Midland Aquatics at 11 a.m. 

UTRGV will host two dual meets this season when they welcome the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals on Oct. 18 and New Mexico State on Jan. 10. 

To end the season, UTRGV will co-host the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Swimming & Diving Championships from Feb. 25-28 at the City of Pharr-PSJA Natatorium. This meet marks the first conference championship hosted by UTRGV in which its own program will compete. 

"We are excited to host the championships in our first season as a member of the MPSF," Graham said. "It is a great honor to be entrusted with a competition of this magnitude, and we are looking forward to showcasing our Division I swimming and diving program in the Rio Grande Valley." 

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