By Davion Scott-Bell OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Nebraska at Omaha is celebrating a milestone in Maverick athletics: the first graduating class of student-athletes from its co-ed swimming and diving program. At the same time, the Mavericks have already launched their new season and are set to compete in their opening meet this weekend.
Announced Dec. 11, 2020, the men’s program was added to UNO’s list of sponsored sports to complement the existing women’s team. Now, the program is beginning its fifth season as a co-ed team with new faces at the helm.
A cultural shift in the pool
Head coach Jessica Hessel spoke about how the men’s and women’s teams have created a shared bond and culture over the years.
“There were some growing pains … but our team has done a good job of building that up and becoming one team. Culture’s been our priority this whole time,” Hessel said. “They went through so much to help define what it means to be an Omaha swimmer or diver. I appreciate their buy-in and shared vision of Omaha swimming and diving. Now, I can officially say mission accomplished.”
Assistant coach Bryce Hartford echoed the sentiment, reflecting on the pride of seeing the first co-ed class graduate.
“It’s felt different here in Omaha compared to other programs I’ve built. A lot of that comes from how accessible everything is,” Hartford said.
Academic and athletic success
The Mavericks excelled not only in the pool but also in the classroom. In 2025, the men posted a 3.428 semester GPA and the women posted a 3.671. Eleven Mavericks earned dean’s list honors, with four named to the chancellor’s list.
In May 2025, the NCAA recognized UNO with perfect Academic Progress Rate scores in 11 sports including both men’s and women’s swimming and diving for the 2023–24 academic year. This underscored the department’s commitment to pairing athletic success with academic distinction.
Eight Mavericks swimmers were named to the Summit League’s Swim and Dive Academic All-League Teams, including five women and three men.
The program has also rewritten its record board. All men’s records have been set in the last five years, while the women hold 15 new records, 12 of which came at the 2025 Summit League Championships.
New faces in leadership
With its first senior class moving on, the Mavericks are looking to new leaders to step into the spotlight.
One of those leaders is senior captain Grant Schaffer, who reflected on the team’s legacy and future.
“It’s really a privilege. I think the guys that came before us really laid down a good trail for what they wanted the program to be,” Schaffer said. “We also have some new freshmen on the team who are soaking everything up like sponges.”
Looking ahead
With its first four-year class leaving a strong foundation, the UNO men’s swim and dive program is well-positioned for continued growth as both a competitive force and an academic leader.
The team hosted their intersquad meet last Friday Sept. 26 to freshen up on their skills and get back into racing before their first competition. Some alumni including members of that first graduating class even returned to race against the current team.
The Mavericks now turn their focus to competition. UNO opens the 2025 season Friday, Oct. 3, in Lincoln with a triangular against Nebraska and South Dakota State, before returning home to the H&K Pool on Saturday, Oct. 4, for a dual with Rockhurst.
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