RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros head swimming & diving coach Betsy Graham announced on Tuesday the addition of Madelaine Bailey, Louise Deroide, Eirini Natsiou, and Kiyana Perez for the 2026-27 season.
 
Madelaine Bailey – Gold Coast, Australia
 
Bailey has qualified and competed at Australian nationals in her three years of competition. She also placed highly at many prestigious events, including gold at the Elite Invitational in New South Wales, bronze in the 3-meter springboard at the state championships, and fourth in synchronized diving at the Australian Aquatic Games.
 
Bailey started her journey in competitive diving three years ago after previously standing out as a gymnast in Australia.
 
"Madelaine is well rounded in both springboard and platform and is coming in with some great fundamentals that we will build on," diving coach Jenn Mangum said. "She has a delightful personality and brings a sense of joy in everything she does."
 
Louise Deroide – Ploërmel, France – Union Des Nagures Ploërmelais
 
Deroide made waves during her youth career in France, reaching the finals of the French Junior Championships three times, earning fifth twice and eighth once.
 
A strong breaststroker, Deroide holds the record times for Union Des Nagures Ploërmelais in the 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter breaststroke at the ages of 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.
 
In addition, Deroide qualified and competed in the Fédération International Sportive de I'Enseignement Catholique World Championships where she set a meet record in the 200-meter breaststroke and won the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter freestyle.
 
"We are excited to welcome Louise to the team," Graham said. "She will help bolster our sprint and breaststroke group."
 
Eirini (Rena) Natsiou – Larissa, Greece
 
Natsiou was a standout junior swimmer in Greece, winning multiple national championships and earning a spot on the Greek Junior National Team. Natsiou was a national champ in high school and won five consecutive winter national championships for her age range.
 
Natsiou represented Greece at the Mediterranean COMEN Cup in 2023. In that meet, she was a member of the 4x100 freestyle relay team that set the national junior record.
 
Natsiou has been swimming since the age of three and now specializes in freestyle sprints and butterfly events. She also comes from a family of pro athletes, primarily swimmers, back home in Greece.
 
"We are excited to have Rena join our Vaquero family," Graham said. "She will bring quality depth to our butterfly and sprint freestyle events."
 
Kiyana Perez – Castroville, Texas – Medina Valley High School
 
Perez dives for both Medina Valley High School and Northside Diving Academy.
 
As part of Northside Diving Academy, Perez has qualified for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Championships in both the 3-meter springboard and platform diving. Last season, she qualified in the 3-meter springboard with her highest mark being 342.45. At the AAU National Championships, Perez finished 26^th in a field of 63 with a mark of 289.95.
 
While competing at Medina Valley High School, Perez qualified for two state championships in her junior and senior seasons. As a junior, Perez earned gold at the Region 8-6A Championships with a mark of 391.20 in the 1-meter springboard to qualify for the state championships, where she finished 19^th.
 
This year, Perez repeated as a regional champion, earning first with a score of 416.55 to qualify for the state championships. The state championship is scheduled to take from Feb. 20-21.
 
"Kiyana has a strong background in platform diving and will definitely help to get our team moving in the right direction in that event," Mangum said. "She is also solid on the springboard events and will be working toward increasing her degree of difficulty in all three events."

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