RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) swimming & diving team hosted their first practice of the 2025-26 season at the City of Pharr-PSJA Natatorium Wednesday.
 
With nearly a month before the season, the swimmers entered the natatorium around 12:30 p.m., excited to get off the blocks. Meanwhile, the divers, who had a session earlier in the morning, were returning for their second workout of the day.
 
Head swimming & diving coach Betsy Graham used today as an opportunity to gauge the team's fitness level.
 
"To me, the first practice is always looking to see who came back in shape, looking at the young ladies who are new, and who I may not have seen swim," Graham said.
 
With the first year officially behind them, the team returns 17 student-athletes for the 2025-26 season. The foundation has been laid and now the team focuses on sharpening their skills, in and out of the pool.
 
"I saw a couple of our returners teaching some of the newcomers how to do our dynamic warm up," Graham said. "They've also been helpful in teaching the newcomers our five key points."
 
The five key points that Graham references are honesty, consistency, communication, praise, and respect. For the swimming & diving program, these five points are the guiding beacon to a successful season.
 
"We did well with this last year, but I want us to continue to do well," Graham said.
 
On the boards, diving coach Jenn Mangum used the first practice to return to the basics.
 
"Today, I wanted our divers to get used to the longer warm up again and focus on some of the little things like the basics of board work and takeoffs," Mangum said.
 
Mangum enters this season with four divers, two returners and two newcomers. The returners, senior and team captain Delaney Murphy and sophomore Manou Meulebeek are looking to build off a good 2024-25 campaign.
 
"We already have some goals that we talked about at the end of last season," Mangum said. "We already have a road map of where we want to get to."
 
The Vaqueros will have their first public showing of 2025-26 on Sept. 26 and 27 when they host their annual Orange & Gray Intrasquad Meet and Pentathlon at the City of Pharr-PSJA Natatorium. The first official meet is set for Oct. 11 when they visit UT Permian Basin.
 
"Right now, we're just going to get back in shape and take a look at our sprinting abilities," Graham said. "We still have a month to knock some stuff out and help prepare them for their first meet."

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