Phillip and Coyne to Lead Owls Return to Diving
8/1/2024 11:18:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
First divers since 1991
Rice head swimming and diving coach Seth Huston announced on Thursday the signing of two student-athletes who will become the first to compete in diving for the Owls in over 30 years.
Megan Phillip, who competed for Minnesota, will join the Owls as a graduate transfer, while Rylee Coyne joins the Owls with two years of eligibility remaining after two seasons at George Washington.
"We are excited to add Megan and Rylee to our team," Huston stated. "They bring collegiate diving experience and success to our program. Their addition will immediately fill holes in our lineup, and they will lay a solid foundation for our diving program for years to come."
Phillip and Coyne will be coached by former three-time Olympian Gabi Chereches as Rice returns to competitive diving for the first time since 1991. Chereches represented Romania in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 summer games and was a nine-time, All-American at Tennessee before embarking on a successful coaching career.
Phillip qualified for the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships three times in her career with the Gophers and advanced to the NCAA Championship as a freshman on the one-meter springboard. She was also a three-time finalist at the Big Ten Championship, finishing eighth on the one-meter in 2023, and on the three-meter in 2021, and 12th on the platform in 2021.
Coyne finished 15th and scored two points for George Washington on the one-meter at the 2023 Atlantic 10 Championship.
Phillip and Coyne will make their debuts for Rice at the Houston Diving Invitational on October 11-12 at the CRWC Natatorium.
Megan Phillip, who competed for Minnesota, will join the Owls as a graduate transfer, while Rylee Coyne joins the Owls with two years of eligibility remaining after two seasons at George Washington.
"We are excited to add Megan and Rylee to our team," Huston stated. "They bring collegiate diving experience and success to our program. Their addition will immediately fill holes in our lineup, and they will lay a solid foundation for our diving program for years to come."
Phillip and Coyne will be coached by former three-time Olympian Gabi Chereches as Rice returns to competitive diving for the first time since 1991. Chereches represented Romania in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 summer games and was a nine-time, All-American at Tennessee before embarking on a successful coaching career.
Phillip qualified for the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships three times in her career with the Gophers and advanced to the NCAA Championship as a freshman on the one-meter springboard. She was also a three-time finalist at the Big Ten Championship, finishing eighth on the one-meter in 2023, and on the three-meter in 2021, and 12th on the platform in 2021.
Coyne finished 15th and scored two points for George Washington on the one-meter at the 2023 Atlantic 10 Championship.
Phillip and Coyne will make their debuts for Rice at the Houston Diving Invitational on October 11-12 at the CRWC Natatorium.
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