Women’s swimming, men’s soccer to compete in the WAC

_{The City of Pharr Natatorium houses the UTRGV Women’s Swimming and Diving program, set to start in the Fall 2024 semester with 35 athletes led by head coach Betsy Graham. THE RIDER FILE PHOTO}

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced UTRGV’s men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving programs will remain members of the Western Athletic Conference in an April 17 news release. 

When the university announced its intention to leave the WAC and join the Southland Conference, the two programs were notably excluded from the move. With this announcement, they have now found a more permanent home.

UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque spoke to The Rider and said he and President Guy Bailey discussed the future of the programs with the WAC when they declared their intention to move to the Southland. 

“I’m really grateful to the WAC, really grateful to Commissioner [Brian] Thornton for entertaining the thought,” Conque said. “Furthermore, I’m really grateful to the president and the athletic directors in the WAC because those are the individuals that have to vote on membership. And so, to be able to have their support, and their support of our student-athletes in those two programs, very, very grateful that we get to remain in the WAC and continue to be part of the strong traditions in both swimming and men’s soccer.”

Asked if this means that UTRGV remains on the hook for the WAC exit fee, Conque replied the realignment is going to be “budget-neutral” for the university.

“This move is really gonna be budget-neutral for us in a lot of different ways … from a variety of different angles,” he said. “As you look at the arrangement that we have as a member of the Southland Conference financially, this is gonna be a great move, budget-neutral, and actually more beneficial as we make some cost savings as we make the shift.”

Conque said both the men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving programs will be playing in the WAC “for the foreseeable future.”

_{Participants in the TRI-Pharr Warrior Race compete in the Olympic-size pool February 2022 at the City of Pharr Natatorium. THE RIDER FILE PHOTO}

The programs were excluded from the Southland move because they do not sponsor women’s swimming and diving or men’s soccer, according to Conque.

Due to this, the plan was to have these programs remain as WAC affiliates while the other 14 athletic programs make the move to the Southland.

Women’s swimming and diving head coach Betsy Graham said she is “excited” to start the inaugural season of the program in the WAC, which she described as having “strong” competition.

“I know that the WAC has some strong schools in it,” Graham said. “I believe that we can fit right in with them.”

She said she was making her preparations for the inaugural season of the swimming and diving program as if they were playing in the WAC long before the move was officially announced.

Men’s soccer head coach Bryheem Hancock told The Rider he is “excited” that he and the student-athletes “know what direction we’re going as a program.”

“We’re excited to be a part of the WAC knowing the history and the opponents that we play, and how good of a conference it’s been,” Hancock said. “We’re excited for a challenge that we’ll have this summer to prepare for the fall.”

Both programs will play their seasons in the Fall 2024 semester, with 2024 marking the inaugural season of the women’s swimming and diving program.

_{UTRGV graduate midfielder Reda Ikarrain tries to steal the ball away from University of Nevada, Las Vegas freshman forward Lucas Gélébart during a Sept. 28 game at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex on the Edinburg campus. Also shown is UTRGV junior defender Finn O’ Connor. THE RIDER FILE PHOTO}