PREVIEW: Cougars Head to Big 12 Conference Championships

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – The University of Houston Swimming & Diving team, coming off a runner-up finish in its inaugural Big 12 Conference Championships in 2024, is looking to maintain its success at the league championship meet this week at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. The meet kicks off on Tuesday and runs through Saturday with every prelim and finals session being streamed on ESPN+.

Big 12 Conference Championships
Date \| Time				Tuesday, Feb. 25 \| Finals: 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, Feb. 26 \| Prelims: Noon CT \| Finals: 8 p.m. CT Thursday, Feb. 27 \| Prelims: Noon CT \| Finals: 8 p.m. CT Friday, Feb. 28 \| Prelims: Noon CT \| Finals: 8 p.m. CT Saturday, March 1 \| Prelims: Noon CT \| Finals: 8 p.m. CT
Location				Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center \| Federal Way, Wash.
Results				Results
Live Stream				ESPN+
Meet Information				Big12Sports.com

SCHEDULE (All Times CT)
Tuesday, Feb. 25
Noon – Time Trials
7 p.m. – Finals (200 Medley Relay, Team Diving, 800 Free Relay)

Wednesday, Feb. 26
Noon – Prelims (500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free)
1:30 p.m. – Prelims (1-meter diving)
15 min after prelims – Consolation Finals (1-meter diving)
7:15 p.m. – Finals (1-meter diving)
8 p.m. – Final (500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free)

Thursday, Feb. 27
Noon – Prelims (100 Fly, 400 IM, 200 Free)
1:30 p.m. – Prelims (3-meter diving)
15 min after prelims – Consolation Finals (3-meter diving)
8 p.m. – Finals (100 Fly, 400 IM, 200 Free, 3-meter diving, 400 medley relay)

Friday, Feb. 28
Noon – Prelims (200 Fly, 100 Breast, 100 Back)
8 p.m. – Finals (200 Fly, 100 Breast, 100 Back, 200 Free Relay)

Saturday, March 1
Noon – Prelims (200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast)
1:30 p.m. – Prelims (Platform diving)
15 Minutes after prelims – Consolation Finals (Platform diving)
8 p.m. – Finals (200 Back, 100 Free, 1650 Free, 200 Breast, Platform diving, 400 Free Relay)

PROGRAM MARKS
Houston has toppled four program records this season with an additional 16 entries on various program Top 10 lists. Freshman Lottie Cullen has led the way with two individual records in the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes while junior Virag Peter set a new Cougar best in the 200-yard breaststroke. The 400-yard medley relay team of Cullen, senior Henrietta Fangli, junior Noor El Gendy and junior Liya Goupil surged to break the team's record in the event at the Phill Hansel Invitational.

BIG 12 HONORS
Freshman Lottie Cullen has made a splash in her debut campaign. Holding two individual program records (100- and 200-yard backstrokes) as well as aiding in toppling the 400-yard medley relay team record, she's been named the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week four times this season, including this week as well as the week following the Phill Hansel after she bettered her 100 back record and set the new 200 back and 400 medley relay records.

Fifth-year Hedda Grelz earned her first Diver of the Week honor of the season on Feb. 5 after a stellar meet against Rice. She won the 3-meter with a season-best score of 315.83 while finishing third in the 1-meter (287.78).

Sophomore Michelle McLeod also collected a conference weekly honor following the Phill Hansel, being named the Big 12 Diver of the Week after winning the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions while also finishing third in the platform.

NCAA CUTS
Houston student-athletes have collected 24 NCAA Cuts across nine different events. Fifth-year Hedda Grelz, McLeod and freshman Caroline Roelen have clinched NCAA Zone Cuts in all three diving events while sophomore Sydney Nethercutt, Fangli and Cullen have earned two NCAA B-Cuts each.

1-meter: Hedda Grelz, Michelle McLeod, Caroline Roelen, Emilia Waters
3-meter: Hedda Grelz, Michelle McLeod, Caroline Roelen, Emilia Waters
Platform: Josie Graves, Hedda Grelz, Michelle McLeod, Caroline Roelen, Emilia Waters
200-yard butterfly: Noor El Gendy (B), Adelaide Meuter (B), Sydney Nethercutt (B)
100-yard breaststroke: Evelyn Entrekin (B), Henrietta Fangli (B)
200-yard breaststroke: Henrietta Fangli (B), Virag Peter (B)
100-yard backstroke: Lottie Cullen (B)
200-yard backstroke: Lottie Cullen (B), Elizabeth Jimenez (B)
1,650-yard freestyle: Sydney Nethercutt (B)

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Four Cougars represented their countries at Short Course Worlds while a pair also swam for their nation at the Gyor Open in December.

Cullen (Ireland), Fangli (Hungary), fifth-year Danielle Titus (Barbados) and Jimenez (Dominican Republic) all participated at Short Course Worlds. Fangli set a new Hungarian record in the 100-meter breaststroke, swimming a 1:05.09, while Jimenez toppled the Dominican Republic's 50-meter backstroke record (28.44).

On the last day of Short Course Worlds, Fangli set another Hungarian record, this time in the 400-meter medley relay (3:51.65) with Titus setting a Barbadian best in the 200-meter backstroke (2:12.86).

Later in December at the Gyor Open, El Gendy set a new Egyptian 200-meter butterfly record (2:13.60) while Fangli earned her third country record of the month, setting a new Hungarian best in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:06.93).

JOIN the FREESTYLE FUND
Fans are invited to join the Freestyle Fund to support Houston Swimming & Diving. Freestyle Fund members provide financial support directly to Houston Swimming & Diving for needs beyond the program's operating budget. For more information, fans can click here.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSwim on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarSwim or on the team's Instagram pageat @uhcougarswim.

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