Open Announce

Swimming & Diving Head to Houston for Phill Hansel Invitational

by Frank Mercogliano

HOUSTON, Texas — After a flurry of dual meets, the Lobo Swimming & Diving squad will close out the 2021 portion of the season with a chance to celebrate some individual successes.  The squad will head east to take part in the annual Phill Hansel Invitational Thursday through Saturday at the CRWC Natatorium. The Lobos are one of eight teams taking part in the three-day meet which will include both swimming and diving preliminary and final events.

The meet is named for Hansel, who coached Houston’s program from 1975-96. He guided the Cougars to more than 70 dual-meet victories and 10 Top-20 finishes at the AIAW and NCAA Championships.  The meet will have a team component to it as well with team scores kept for all eight teams.

The Lobos are 2-2 on the season in dual meets, so this weekend’s meet serves as a great chance to continue the program’s return from missing the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic.  The Lobos have had plenty of different winners over the course of the opening four meets, and will look to have that continue.  Swimmers to watch include rookies Katy McCarter and Kailey Turner, who have each had three-win meets this season.  Maddie Deucher and Marina Olmstead, a pair of SEC transfers, have also turned in solid falls.  On the diving platform, Daphne Scheck and Jocelyn Gallais own event wins and will look to advance into the finals.

Fans can attend the three-day meet free of charge with events beginning at 10 a.m. If unable to attend the invitational, fans can also follow live stats here, and fans can watch live here.

The Phill Hansel Invitational will conclude the swimming & diving fall schedule.