UNI Swimming and Diving Opens Season with Intrasquad Meet

The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) swimming and diving team will debut its 2026-27 season with the annual Purple and Gold Intrasquad meet. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, September 26, at the Glen F. Henry Pool in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and is free for all fans to attend.

This intrasquad competition serves as the Panthers' first competitive action. It acts as a tune-up before the regular season begins on October 9 with a dual meet at Marquette.

Jersey Retirement for Lembezeder

Prior to the meet, UNI will honor nine-time Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) champion Molly Lembezeder with a jersey retirement ceremony. The Dubuque, Iowa native competed for UNI from 2014 to 2018. She was a three-time First Team All-MVC performer and a three-time MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete. Lembezeder also set eight program records during her collegiate career.

She becomes the sixth Panther athlete to receive this honor, joining Bill Smith (wrestling), AJ Green (men's basketball), Jacqui Kalin (women's basketball), Patty Stockman (softball), and Kurt Warner (football). According to the UNI athletics source, additional jersey retirements are planned for the coming weeks.

Returning Talent for the Panthers

UNI is building on a fifth-place finish at last season's MVC Championships. The team returns a strong core of athletes, led by reigning MVC Diver of the Year Avery Hogan. Hogan won the three-meter competition and placed second in the one-meter at the conference meet last season, qualifying for the NCAA Zones.

On the swimming side, standout sophomore Morgan Raether returns after earning an All-MVC Honorable Mention. She holds seven top-ten times in the UNI record books. Other key returning swimmers include senior Sam Oeltjen, who also received an All-MVC Honorable Mention and holds three top-ten program times, senior Nikki Walters, and junior Abigail Barkhurst, who holds two spots on the top-ten list.

Diving Depth and New Additions

The Panthers' diving squad brings back significant experience. Alongside Hogan, the team returns All-MVC Honorable Mention performers Addison Bausman and Trista Thompson. Sophomore Eva Coonrad also returns.

New faces join the diving well, including freshman Iowa high school state champion Camryn Russell and Francesca Dehl.

UNI adds five new swimmers to the program: Avery Duerr, Olivia Gustafson, Payton Hultgren, Malea Johnson, and Chloe Magnuson. The team's progress can be followed on social media platforms Facebook, X, and Instagram under the handle @uniswimdive.