Rice University Athletics
Owls Announce Eight Newcomers for the 2026-27 Season
6/29/2026 3:37:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
HOUSTON – Rice Swim and Dive head coach Seth Huston announced the signing of eight student-athletes to the 2026-27 class.
Angelica Mom, Olivia Aarseth, Camryn Jones, Winnie Liu, Lauren Cochran, Brianna Gough and transfers Eva McIver-Jenkins and Elizabeth Woollcott will join the Owls in the fall.
"We are really excited to welcome these young ladies to our program," Huston said. "They impressed our team with their passion for excellence in the classroom and in the pool. Now, we will help them develop that same passion for Rice and for this team. Hats off to our entire staff for working together to build this class."
Mom joins the Owls from Walnut, California, where she competed for La Mirada Armada. She specializes in mid-distance freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Her personal bests include 1:59.81 in the 200 butterfly, 10:05.73 in the 1,000 freestyle and 4:56.60 in the 500 freestyle.
"Rice has one of the most welcoming and supportive atmospheres I've ever seen," Mom said. "I can't wait to build new relationships and connections not only with the program, coaches and athletes, but with the rest of the faculty and students at Rice as a student-athlete!"
Jones comes to Rice from Warminster, Pennsylvania, where she swam for Germantown Academy Aquatic Club. A distance specialist, she holds personal bests of 16:56.88 in the 1,650 freestyle, 10:06.40 in the 1,000 freestyle and 4:55.96 in the 500 freestyle.
"I am so excited to join the supportive environment, not just on the Rice swim team but also at the school," Jones said. "I am looking forward to being surrounded by girls who foster a strong team culture and push everyone to their goals!"
Liu, a native of Richmond, Texas, swam for First Colony Swim Team. She specializes in sprint freestyle and butterfly. Her personal bests include 1:48.38 in the 200 freestyle, 50.41 in the 100 freestyle and 2:02.98 in the 200 butterfly.
"I'm excited to be part of a team that supports one another while striving for excellence," Liu said. "Rice's elite athletics, academics, and collaborative culture make it the perfect next chapter."
Cochran joins the Owls from Katy, Texas, where she competed for Katy Aquatics and focuses on mid-distance freestyle. She holds personal bests of 1:49.35 in the 200 freestyle, 4:55.40 in the 500 freestyle and 50.37 in the 100 freestyle.
"What excites me most about Rice is its close-knit, hardworking community," Cochran said. "The team culture and supportive atmosphere left a lasting impression on me, and I'm so excited for the opportunities ahead at Rice."
Gough, from West Sacramento, California, competed for UC Davis Aquatics Club and specializes in sprint freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Her personal bests include 1:49.39 in the 200 freestyle, 50.44 in the 100 freestyle and 2:00.93 in the 200 backstroke.
"I'm most excited for meeting my new teammates and meeting more people," Gough said. "I look forward to decorating my dorm and making Rice my home."
McIver-Jenkins is a sophomore transfer from Brown and a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A graduate of William Penn Charter School, she competes in sprint freestyle and butterfly. Her top times include 50.32 in the 100 freestyle, 54.61 in the 100 butterfly, 1:59.95 in the 200 butterfly and 55.74 in the 100 backstroke.
"I am incredibly excited to push myself academically and athletically as an Owl," McIver-Jenkins said. "It will be awesome to be a part of such a hardworking and passionate team and community!"
Aarseth is a diver from Dallas, Texas. She owns personal-best scores of 318.50 on the 1-meter, 330.95 on the 3-meter and 316.80 on platform. Aarseth qualified for the 2025 USA Junior National Championships on the 3-meter and won the platform event at the 2025 Houston Hoedown.
"I'm very excited about joining a tightly knit community of supportive athletes and coaches who will help me grow in my career at Rice University," Aarseth said.
Woollcott is a diver from Rochester Hills, Michigan. She joins Rice from Oakland University, where she posted personal-best scores of 267.68 on the 1-meter and 263.25 on the 3-meter. She also recorded top-10 finishes at the 2026 Horizon League Championships, placing fifth on the 3-meter with a score of 256.90 and eighth on the 1-meter with a score of 228.35.
"The opportunity I have been given to be a part of the Rice community can only be described as incredible," Woollcott said. "Giving me the opportunity to make lifelong relationships with my teammates, while learning from a prestigious staff of coaches and professors. The student body at Rice University embodies excellence, and I am so grateful to be a part of the Rice Owls!"
Angelica Mom, Olivia Aarseth, Camryn Jones, Winnie Liu, Lauren Cochran, Brianna Gough and transfers Eva McIver-Jenkins and Elizabeth Woollcott will join the Owls in the fall.
"We are really excited to welcome these young ladies to our program," Huston said. "They impressed our team with their passion for excellence in the classroom and in the pool. Now, we will help them develop that same passion for Rice and for this team. Hats off to our entire staff for working together to build this class."
Mom joins the Owls from Walnut, California, where she competed for La Mirada Armada. She specializes in mid-distance freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Her personal bests include 1:59.81 in the 200 butterfly, 10:05.73 in the 1,000 freestyle and 4:56.60 in the 500 freestyle.
"Rice has one of the most welcoming and supportive atmospheres I've ever seen," Mom said. "I can't wait to build new relationships and connections not only with the program, coaches and athletes, but with the rest of the faculty and students at Rice as a student-athlete!"
Jones comes to Rice from Warminster, Pennsylvania, where she swam for Germantown Academy Aquatic Club. A distance specialist, she holds personal bests of 16:56.88 in the 1,650 freestyle, 10:06.40 in the 1,000 freestyle and 4:55.96 in the 500 freestyle.
"I am so excited to join the supportive environment, not just on the Rice swim team but also at the school," Jones said. "I am looking forward to being surrounded by girls who foster a strong team culture and push everyone to their goals!"
Liu, a native of Richmond, Texas, swam for First Colony Swim Team. She specializes in sprint freestyle and butterfly. Her personal bests include 1:48.38 in the 200 freestyle, 50.41 in the 100 freestyle and 2:02.98 in the 200 butterfly.
"I'm excited to be part of a team that supports one another while striving for excellence," Liu said. "Rice's elite athletics, academics, and collaborative culture make it the perfect next chapter."
Cochran joins the Owls from Katy, Texas, where she competed for Katy Aquatics and focuses on mid-distance freestyle. She holds personal bests of 1:49.35 in the 200 freestyle, 4:55.40 in the 500 freestyle and 50.37 in the 100 freestyle.
"What excites me most about Rice is its close-knit, hardworking community," Cochran said. "The team culture and supportive atmosphere left a lasting impression on me, and I'm so excited for the opportunities ahead at Rice."
Gough, from West Sacramento, California, competed for UC Davis Aquatics Club and specializes in sprint freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Her personal bests include 1:49.39 in the 200 freestyle, 50.44 in the 100 freestyle and 2:00.93 in the 200 backstroke.
"I'm most excited for meeting my new teammates and meeting more people," Gough said. "I look forward to decorating my dorm and making Rice my home."
McIver-Jenkins is a sophomore transfer from Brown and a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A graduate of William Penn Charter School, she competes in sprint freestyle and butterfly. Her top times include 50.32 in the 100 freestyle, 54.61 in the 100 butterfly, 1:59.95 in the 200 butterfly and 55.74 in the 100 backstroke.
"I am incredibly excited to push myself academically and athletically as an Owl," McIver-Jenkins said. "It will be awesome to be a part of such a hardworking and passionate team and community!"
Aarseth is a diver from Dallas, Texas. She owns personal-best scores of 318.50 on the 1-meter, 330.95 on the 3-meter and 316.80 on platform. Aarseth qualified for the 2025 USA Junior National Championships on the 3-meter and won the platform event at the 2025 Houston Hoedown.
"I'm very excited about joining a tightly knit community of supportive athletes and coaches who will help me grow in my career at Rice University," Aarseth said.
Woollcott is a diver from Rochester Hills, Michigan. She joins Rice from Oakland University, where she posted personal-best scores of 267.68 on the 1-meter and 263.25 on the 3-meter. She also recorded top-10 finishes at the 2026 Horizon League Championships, placing fifth on the 3-meter with a score of 256.90 and eighth on the 1-meter with a score of 228.35.
"The opportunity I have been given to be a part of the Rice community can only be described as incredible," Woollcott said. "Giving me the opportunity to make lifelong relationships with my teammates, while learning from a prestigious staff of coaches and professors. The student body at Rice University embodies excellence, and I am so grateful to be a part of the Rice Owls!"
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