RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) swimming & diving program finished strong in the final day of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Swimming & Diving Championships as a team-high five entries scored points for the Vaqueros Saturday.
UTRGV showcased overall growth this season, scoring 271.5 points as compared to the 132 points it scored at the 2025 Western Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships. The depth of the Vaqueros shined as a total of 13 entries scored points throughout the championships as compared to the seven entries that scored last year.
Alongside the impressive growth in competition, the Vaqueros welcomed a total of 5,635 fans over the entire week, marking an average of over 1,400 fans per day. The week showcased not only a good showing for UTRGV Swimming & Diving, but a great showcase of swimming & diving in the Rio Grande Valley.
Leading the way for UTRGV was sophomore
Annaleagh Stahl, who placed ninth in the 200 backstroke final with a program-record and personal-best time of 1:59.80. Stahl's ninth place finish was the highest individual finish by a UTRGV swimmer. Stahl came into the finals as the 12
th seed after placing 12
th in the prelims of the 100 backstroke to secure her spot in the consolation final. The 200 backstroke featured another strong swim as freshman
Sarah Bull earned 21
st place, scoring more points for the Vaqueros.
Freshman
Ellinor Plant and junior
Olivia Votava showed out for UTRGV in the 1650 freestyle, as they both scored points today. Plant took 21
st with a program-record and personal-best time of 17:48.34. Meanwhile, Votava finished 23
rd after clocking in 18:08.98.
In the final race of the day, freshman
Dia Henderson, sophomore
Ida Rudelius, Bull, and Stahl clocked in at 3:37.42 to earn 9
th in the 400 freestyle relay, which is tied for the highest UTRGV relay finish, and close out the championships.
Looking Back at the Prelims
During the preliminary session, the Vaqueros had two advance to the finals session as Stahl and Bull qualified in the 200 backstroke. Bull placed 22
nd in the preliminary round after swimming a 2:05.98.
In the 200 freestyle, freshman
Dia Henderson swam a team-high 53.60 to take 40
th place while sophomore
Ida Rudelius came in 42
nd with a time of 54.43.
In the 200 breaststroke, freshman
Jaydy Jay claimed 29
th with a time of 2:26.43 while freshman
Ava Light picked up 34
th with a time of 2:35.16.
UTRGV will now turn its attention to the postseason as sophomore diver
Manou Meulebeek qualified for the Zone "D" Diving Championships in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard. The championships will span two days, March 9 and 10, hosted by Texas A&M University at the Student Recreation Center Natatorium.
Team Standings
1. Northern Arizona, 1350
2. New Mexico State, 1227
3. Northern Colorado, 1171.5
4. California Baptist, 980.5
5. Idaho, 942
6. Pepperdine, 610
7. Utah Tech, 604
8. Pacific, 431
9. Incarnate Word, 420.5
10. UTRGV, 271.5
Day Four Final Results
200 backstroke
9.
Annaleagh Stahl, 1:59.80
21.
Sarah Bull, 2:05.17
1650 freestyle
21.
Ellinor Plant, 17:48.34
23.
Olivia Votava, 18:08.98
400 freestyle relay
9.
Dia Henderson,
Ida Rudelius,
Sarah Bull,
Annaleagh Stahl, 3:37.42
Day Four Prelim Results
200 backstroke
12.
Annaleagh Stahl, 2:02.64
22.
Sarah Bull, 2:05.94
26.
Sasapin Sarawas, 2:08.59
32.
Marina Johnson, 2:12.42
33.
Lauren Uribe, 2:28.34
100 freestyle
40.
Dia Henderson, 53.60
42.
Ida Rudelius, 54.43
44.
Madiana Lofgren, 55.10
45.
AJ Rogers, 56.55
46.
Giovanna Pierami, 57.38
47.
Mia Gonzalez, 58.19
48.
Audrey Trevino, 59.83
200 breaststroke
29.
Jaydy Jay, 2:26.43
34.
Ava Light, 2:35.16
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