Friday, September 25
Lincoln, NE
2 p.m. CT
Omaha
at
The Good Life Relays
Swimming and Diving Opens 2026-27 Campaign in Lincoln
Sep 24, 2026 | Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving
OMAHA –  Omaha men's and women's swimming and diving opens the 2026-27 campaign Friday, Sept. 25, traveling to Lincoln, Nebraska, for the Good Life Relays. The exhibition meet is set to begin at 2 p.m. CT.
After third-place finishes at the 2026 Summit League Championships, both Omaha programs enter the new season with high expectations, earning No. 2 selections in the 2026-27 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Sophomore swimmer Brady Wainionpaa (Hudson, Wis.) and junior diver Owen Kipp (Eagan, Minn.) were named Summit League Players to Watch on the men's side, while sophomore swimmer Addisyn Storms (Omaha, Neb.) and junior diver Brooke Robbins (Kansas City, Mo.) earned the recognition for the women.
Wainionpaa returns after making an immediate impact during his freshman season, setting three school records and earning All-Summit League honors.
At the 2026 Summit League Championships, Wainionpaa placed third in the 100 breaststroke with a personal-best time of 54.16, fourth in the 200 individual medley with a personal-best 1:48.83 and fifth in the 200 breaststroke with another personal best of 1:59.15.
Wainionpaa also earned Summit League Kwik Star Swimmer of the Week honors on Nov. 18, 2025.
Kipp enters his junior campaign following a historic 2025-26 season highlighted by a Summit League title in the 1-meter dive and a runner-up finish in the 3-meter at the 2026 Summit League Championships.
His championship performance earned him Summit League Championship MVP and Diver of the Year honors, becoming the first male diver in program history to receive the award.
Kipp continued his postseason run at the NCAA Zone D Championships, advancing to the finals in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions. He also earned All-Summit League honors and was twice named Summit League Diver of the Week during the season.
Storms returns to the pool after a strong debut season for her hometown Mavericks.
She opened her collegiate career with a first-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and a time of 2:21.19. Her early-season success continued as she collected four individual victories across Omaha's first two meets, earning Summit League Kwik Star Peak Swimmer of the Week honors.
Storms also made her mark at the 2025 A3 Performance Invite, placing third in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke finals. She capped her freshman campaign with All-Summit League honors.
Robbins enters her junior season after earning All-Summit League honors in 2025-26.
She was named Summit League Kwik Star Peak Diver of the Week after winning the 3-meter competition against South Dakota on Jan. 23.
At the 2026 Summit League Championships, Robbins placed fourth in the 3-meter final with a score of 259.60.
Lemus arrives in Omaha following a decorated high school career. As a sophomore, he was a state alternate in the team relays before serving as team captain during the 2023-24 season. As a junior, Lemus qualified for the state meet in two individual events and was a member of two state-qualifying relays, while also capturing a section title in the 100 freestyle. He returned to the state meet in the 100 freestyle as a senior and helped lead his team to a section championship.
MacLaughlin joins the Mavericks after a standout prep career of her own. She broke program records for her co-op team as both a sophomore and junior and delivered one of her top performances in the 500 freestyle at the state meet. MacLaughlin lowered her personal best by two seconds in the event, placing second in the preliminaries before finishing seventh in the final.
Leading the Mavericks is head coach Jessica Hessel, who enters her fifth season at the helm of the Omaha swimming and diving program.
A former Maverick standout, Hessel has deep ties to the program. She was promoted to associate head coach in July 2020 after spending the previous six seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Hessel was a four-year letterwinner at Omaha from 2004-08 and anchored the Mavericks' NCAA championship 400 relay team during her senior season. She capped her decorated collegiate career as a 10-time All-American, earned 12 additional honorable mention All-America honors and set four school records.
Joining Hessel on the coaching staff is assistant diving coach Eric Sprague, who enters his 12th overall season with the Mavericks. Sprague returned to Omaha in 2015-16 after previously serving as the program's diving coach during the 2012-13 season.
Sprague has helped develop 11 NCAA Zone Diving qualifiers, eight All-Summit League selections and 10 Summit League Diver of the Week honorees. He is coming off a standout 2025-26 campaign in which he was named Summit League Diving Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, Omaha totaled 26 first-place finishes, five NCAA Zone qualifying marks, five program records and five Summit League Kwik Star Peak Diver of the Week honors.
The Mavericks continued that success at the 2026 Summit League Championships, capturing an individual title and the team diving championship while earning two All-Summit League honors.
Sprague also guided Owen Kipp to Summit League Championship MVP honors, making Kipp the first Omaha diver in program history to receive the award.
Also returning to the Omaha coaching staff is assistant coach Bryce Hartman, who has been a member of the Mavericks' swimming and diving program since 2021. Hartman serves as the program's sprint coach.
Omaha will open its regular-season slate on Oct. 3, hosting Augustana at H&K Pool in Omaha. The meet is set for noon CT.
Connect with Omaha Swimming and Diving on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, @OmahaSWM.
After third-place finishes at the 2026 Summit League Championships, both Omaha programs enter the new season with high expectations, earning No. 2 selections in the 2026-27 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Sophomore swimmer Brady Wainionpaa (Hudson, Wis.) and junior diver Owen Kipp (Eagan, Minn.) were named Summit League Players to Watch on the men's side, while sophomore swimmer Addisyn Storms (Omaha, Neb.) and junior diver Brooke Robbins (Kansas City, Mo.) earned the recognition for the women.
Wainionpaa returns after making an immediate impact during his freshman season, setting three school records and earning All-Summit League honors.
At the 2026 Summit League Championships, Wainionpaa placed third in the 100 breaststroke with a personal-best time of 54.16, fourth in the 200 individual medley with a personal-best 1:48.83 and fifth in the 200 breaststroke with another personal best of 1:59.15.
Wainionpaa also earned Summit League Kwik Star Swimmer of the Week honors on Nov. 18, 2025.
Kipp enters his junior campaign following a historic 2025-26 season highlighted by a Summit League title in the 1-meter dive and a runner-up finish in the 3-meter at the 2026 Summit League Championships.
His championship performance earned him Summit League Championship MVP and Diver of the Year honors, becoming the first male diver in program history to receive the award.
Kipp continued his postseason run at the NCAA Zone D Championships, advancing to the finals in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions. He also earned All-Summit League honors and was twice named Summit League Diver of the Week during the season.
Storms returns to the pool after a strong debut season for her hometown Mavericks.
She opened her collegiate career with a first-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and a time of 2:21.19. Her early-season success continued as she collected four individual victories across Omaha's first two meets, earning Summit League Kwik Star Peak Swimmer of the Week honors.
Storms also made her mark at the 2025 A3 Performance Invite, placing third in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke finals. She capped her freshman campaign with All-Summit League honors.
Robbins enters her junior season after earning All-Summit League honors in 2025-26.
She was named Summit League Kwik Star Peak Diver of the Week after winning the 3-meter competition against South Dakota on Jan. 23.
At the 2026 Summit League Championships, Robbins placed fourth in the 3-meter final with a score of 259.60.
Lemus arrives in Omaha following a decorated high school career. As a sophomore, he was a state alternate in the team relays before serving as team captain during the 2023-24 season. As a junior, Lemus qualified for the state meet in two individual events and was a member of two state-qualifying relays, while also capturing a section title in the 100 freestyle. He returned to the state meet in the 100 freestyle as a senior and helped lead his team to a section championship.
MacLaughlin joins the Mavericks after a standout prep career of her own. She broke program records for her co-op team as both a sophomore and junior and delivered one of her top performances in the 500 freestyle at the state meet. MacLaughlin lowered her personal best by two seconds in the event, placing second in the preliminaries before finishing seventh in the final.
Leading the Mavericks is head coach Jessica Hessel, who enters her fifth season at the helm of the Omaha swimming and diving program.
A former Maverick standout, Hessel has deep ties to the program. She was promoted to associate head coach in July 2020 after spending the previous six seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Hessel was a four-year letterwinner at Omaha from 2004-08 and anchored the Mavericks' NCAA championship 400 relay team during her senior season. She capped her decorated collegiate career as a 10-time All-American, earned 12 additional honorable mention All-America honors and set four school records.
Joining Hessel on the coaching staff is assistant diving coach Eric Sprague, who enters his 12th overall season with the Mavericks. Sprague returned to Omaha in 2015-16 after previously serving as the program's diving coach during the 2012-13 season.
Sprague has helped develop 11 NCAA Zone Diving qualifiers, eight All-Summit League selections and 10 Summit League Diver of the Week honorees. He is coming off a standout 2025-26 campaign in which he was named Summit League Diving Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, Omaha totaled 26 first-place finishes, five NCAA Zone qualifying marks, five program records and five Summit League Kwik Star Peak Diver of the Week honors.
The Mavericks continued that success at the 2026 Summit League Championships, capturing an individual title and the team diving championship while earning two All-Summit League honors.
Sprague also guided Owen Kipp to Summit League Championship MVP honors, making Kipp the first Omaha diver in program history to receive the award.
Also returning to the Omaha coaching staff is assistant coach Bryce Hartman, who has been a member of the Mavericks' swimming and diving program since 2021. Hartman serves as the program's sprint coach.
Omaha will open its regular-season slate on Oct. 3, hosting Augustana at H&K Pool in Omaha. The meet is set for noon CT.
Connect with Omaha Swimming and Diving on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, @OmahaSWM.
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
D
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
B/IM
/ Men's Swimming & DivingMonday, October 05
Monday, October 05
Monday, October 05
Monday, October 05
