Swimming & Diving Posts Strong Start at Houston Diving Invitational, Rice Fall Splash

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Swimming & Diving team collected 19 podiums and four event wins at the Rice Fall Splash and Houston Diving Invitational as it started its 2024-25 season on Friday at the CRWC Natatorium (diving) and Rice Competition Pool (swimming).

HOUSTON DIVING INVITATIONAL
Three divers earned zone cuts in the 1-meter event as Houston took second and third. Sophomore Michelle McLeod claimed second with a score of 291.65 while fifth-year Hedda Grelz finished third with a mark of 279.85. Joining McLeod and Grelz, fifth-year Emilia Waters clinched a Zone Cut with a score of 278.90.

Grelz and McLeod continued their success into the second event of the day in the 3-meter springboard. Grelz finished second, earning an NCAA Zone Cut with a score of 299.25. McLeod also earned a Zone Cut while finishing in third with a score of 290.75.

RICE FALL SPLASH
Leading the way across town at the Rice Competition Pool, senior Henrietta Fangli led the way in a podium sweep of the 100-yard breaststroke, taking first with a 1:02.80. Junior Virag Peter placed second (1:02.88) and sophomore Evelyn Entrekin finished third (1:03.01).

Freshman Lottie Cullen clinched her first collegiate individual podium finish with a second place showing (1:59.92) in the 200-yard backstroke while sophomore Elizabeth Jimenez placed third (2:01.18).

The 400-yard medley relay team of Cullen, Fangli, junior Noor El Gendy and senior Mary Catherine Jurica placed first (3:43.59) while the grouping of Jimenez, Entrekin, senior Adelaide Meuter and junior Jenna Kerkman finished third with a 3:48.27.
Entrekin (57.77) and Fangli (58.29) combined to finish in second and third, respectively, in the 100-yard individual medley. El Gendy and Meuter, meanwhile, touched the wall in first and second with times of 2:02.56 and 2:03.06, respectively, in the 200-yard butterfly.

Junior Liya Goupil swam a 51.30 to claim the top spot of the 100-yard freestyle while Jurica touched the wall in 51.49 for second place. Sophomore Sydney Nethercutt represented Houston on the podium of the 400-yard individual medley with a 4:27.72 to place third.

To wrap up the day, the relay squad of Goupil, Jurica, Kerkman and Cullen swam a 1:35.71 to finish second in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

UP NEXT
Houston continues competition at both the Houston Diving Invitational and the Rice Fall Splash on Saturday. The divers start competition at 10 a.m. at CRWC Natatorium on Houston's campus while the swimmers begin at 11 a.m. at the Rice Competition Pool.

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Swimming & Diving Posts Strong Start at Houston Diving Invitational, Rice Fall Splash

Players Mentioned

Lottie Cullen

Noor El Gendy

Evelyn Entrekin

Henrietta Fangli

Liya Goupil

Hedda Grelz

Elizabeth Jimenez

Mary Catherine Jurica

Jenna Kerkman

Michelle McLeod

Adelaide Meuter

Sydney Nethercutt

Virag Peter

Emilia Waters

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