ODESSA, Texas (October 12, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's swimming team hosted NCAA Division 1 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday at COM Aquatics. By the end of the meet, the Falcons fell 217-74 but had eight second-place finishes out of 14 individual events.

It was the season opener for the Vaqueros, who under former UTPB head Coach Betsy Graham, enter their second year of competition. The Vaqueros saw seven individuals combine for 14 individual wins and the team winning both relay events. In addition, sophomore Manou Meulebeek officially qualified for the NCAA Zone "D" Diving Championships in the 3-meter springboard after securing a program record 293.25 to win the event.

Top performers for UTPB included Ava McCormack finishing second in three events (100 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly), Avery Momotiuk finishing second in both the 100 breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke, Rowan McWhorter taking second in both the 200 butterfly and the 200 IM, and Nadia Phelps finishing second in the 200 freestyle and third in the 500 freestyle.

UTPB Head Coach Brian Schroeder said, "We were trying some people in new events. UTPB's previous head coach, Betsy Graham, has done a good job recruiting some fast swimmers at her DI program at UTRGV. It was fun to interact with some of UTPB's previous coaches and swimmers, and the teams showed a lot of respect for each other."
 
Women's Top-Three Finishes:
200 freestyle – second place – Nadia Phelps – 2:05.61
100 backstroke – second place – Ava McCormack – 1:03.13
100 backstroke – third place – Mackenzie Gingerich – 1:05.59
100 breaststroke – second place – Avery Momotiuk – 1:09.81
100 breaststroke – third place – Brylee York – 1:16.76
200 butterfly – second place – Rowan McWhorter – 2:24.28
100 freestyle – second place – Ava McCormack – 57.81
200 backstroke – third place – Lu-Lu Van Winkle – 2:34.78
200 breaststroke – second place – Avery Momotiuk – 2:35.28
500 freestyle – third place – Nadia Phelps – 5:45.46
100 butterfly – second place – Ava McCormack – 1:02.81
100 butterfly – third place – Samarrah Hernandez – 1:05.66
200 IM – second place – Rowan McWhorter – 2:21.87