HOUSTON (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV women’s swimming and diving team made a splash at the Mountain West Championships. They brought home three medals and even set a school record!
Junior Ava Olson kicked off the day with an incredible performance. She broke a 15-year-old record in the 1650 free with a time of 16:23.21, earning a silver medal. This was her second NCAA qualifying time of the week, beating a record once held by Jessica Heim since 2011.
Sophomore Grace Wharton also shined, snagging her third silver medal in the 200 back with a time of 1:55.32, the second-fastest time in the school’s history.
In the final event, the Scarlet & Gray 400 free relay ‘A’ team, which included junior Fernanda Mendez Guerra and seniors Averi Webb, Gina Miller, and Erika Carlson, captured bronze. They recorded the second fastest time in the school’s history at 3:17.01.
As a team, UNLV finished in third place with 1,083 points, ahead of their rivals, UNR, who scored 861.5 points. This result also earned them 1.5 points in the Silver State Series, presented by America First Credit Union. San Diego State took home the team title with 1,367.5 points.
Here’s a quick rundown of other standout performances:
- Sophomore Allyse Abbott dove to a 10th-place finish on the platform, scoring 227.80.
- Halayna Montrichard finished fourth in the 200 back with her best time of 1:56.04.
- In the 100 free finals, Carlson secured sixth place with a season-best of 49.21.
Coach Pat Ota praised the team: “Our women showed up, raced hard, and brought the energy for the championship meet. This team has been amazing all year and showed a lot of heart all week. We’re excited for the national stage next month!”
This year’s Mountain West Championships were a testament to the growth and determination of the UNLV team. According to a recent survey by the NCAA, participation in collegiate swimming has steadily increased over the last decade. This growth reflects a heightened interest in the sport, and teams are reaping the benefits through competitive performances like UNLV’s at this championship.
The Rebels are gearing up for the upcoming national meet, where they’ll have a chance to showcase their talent on an even bigger stage. With records falling and medals coming home, the future looks bright for this dedicated team.
2026 Mountain West Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships
CRWC Natatorium, University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Saturday, February 21
Team Scoring
1. San Diego State – 1,367.5
2. Washington State – 1,102.5
3. UNLV – 1,083
4. Fresno State – 913
5. UNR – 861.5
6. Air Force – 811.5
7. Wyoming – 719
8. Colorado State – 695.5
9. San José State – 559
10. Grand Canyon – 488.5
11. New Mexico – 279
Top 8 Finishes
1650 Free – 2nd place – 16:23.21 (Olson)
200 Back – 2nd place – 1:55.32 (Wharton), 4th place – 1:56.04 (Montrichard)
400 Free Relay – 3rd place – 3:17.01 (Mendez Guerra, Webb, Miller, Carlson)
100 Free – 6th place – 49.21 (Carlson)
-UNLV-
