In a splash of sporting triumph, the University of the Incarnate Word's (UIW) Artistic Swimming team has made a historic ripple, winning its first-ever USA Artistic Swimming Collegiate Championship. The Cardinals cut through competition in Lewisville, Texas, leaving powerhouses Ohio State University and Stanford University in their wake.
The win, as reported by Fox San Antonio, not only crowns the Cardinals as the champs of the pool but also earmarks UIW's first national title in its athletics program's history. "Today marks the culmination of two years of hard work under the guidance of Coach Hayler," said UIW Athletics Director Richard Duran. "These outstanding student-athletes have not only excelled academically, achieving UIW's highest cumulative team GPA but have also made significant contributions to the community."
Adding to the team's celebrations, Head Coach Alyson Haylor was named National Coach of the Year. Haylor, who only took over the reins of the program in 2022, has apparently flipped the team's fortunes with her innovative coaching techniques and inspiring leadership.
According to the university's own press flack, uiwcardinals.com, "Today, we proudly present our program as national champions in competition! I commend the entire program and thank them for representing UIW at the highest level," Duran stated, Notably, this national title win isn't just a win in the water – it sets a new benchmark for UIW sports across the board.
As the Cardinals dive into the future, the mixing of academic achievement, community involvement, and now a national title has posed UIW as a force to be reckoned with. Under Coach Haylor’s guidance, it's safe to say the artistic swimming team isn’t just treading water anymore.
