Women's Swimming and Diving 10/8/2026 1:29:00 PM Tyler McDonough, Assistant Director of Sports Communications

Swimming & Diving Opens 2026-27 Season at Pepperdine's Rodionoff Invitational

ThunderWolves Return to Malibu for Season Opener; Diving Returns to Pack for First Time Since 2019-20

MALIBU, Calif. – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's swimming and diving team will officially dive into its 2026-27 season this weekend as the ThunderWolves travel west to Malibu, Calif., to compete in the annual Rodionoff Invitational, hosted by Pepperdine University.

The two-day invitational is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool on the campus of Pepperdine University. Competition is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (11 a.m. Mountain Time) on both days.

Led by sixth year head coach Susanne Divelbiss, the ThunderWolves return to Malibu for the second consecutive season, looking to build upon a successful 2025-26 campaign that saw the Pack establish multiple school records and earn five All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selections.

The 2026-27 season also marks an exciting milestone for the program, as diving returns to the ThunderWolves' roster for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.

PACK RETURNS TO MALIBU

CSU Pueblo will make its return to the Rodionoff Invitational after turning in a strong showing at last season's event.

The ThunderWolves finished fourth overall with 169 points and were the second-highest finishing NCAA Division II program in the field.

Among the highlights from last year's invitational was a dominant performance from then-freshman Andrea Reyes, who captured first place in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:54.21. Her performance helped lead a 1-2-3 sweep for CSU Pueblo in the distance event, with Sarah Fransson and Aleksandra Dutkowiak finishing second and third, respectively.

This weekend's competition will provide the Pack with an early opportunity to measure itself against programs outside the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference while establishing a foundation for the remainder of the season.

EXPERIENCED RETURNERS LEAD THE PACK

CSU Pueblo enters the new campaign with a combination of experienced upperclassmen, talented sophomores and newcomers looking to make an immediate impact.

Leading the returning group is senior Olivia Dannhaus, who enters her final season with the ThunderWolves following an impressive junior campaign. The Sheridan, Wyo., native earned Second Team All-RMAC honors as a member of both the 200-yard and 400-yard medley relay teams last season.

Sophomores Aria Chase, Angela Pantke and Andrea Reyes also return after making significant contributions during their freshman campaigns.

Chase, a native of Kamloops, British Columbia, earned All-RMAC recognition during her first collegiate season, while Pantke and Reyes were both named Second Team All-RMAC performers as members of the Pack's 400-yard medley relay squad.

Reyes, who competes in distance and middle-distance events, will look to build on her impressive freshman campaign, which included her individual victory at last year's Rodionoff Invitational.

The ThunderWolves also welcome back senior Laci Denn, sophomore Sarah Fransson and several additional returning contributors, providing Divelbiss with experience throughout the lineup.

DIVING RETURNS TO CSU PUEBLO FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2019-20

One of the biggest storylines heading into the 2026-27 season is the return of diving to the CSU Pueblo swimming and diving program.

For the first time since the 2019-20 campaign, the ThunderWolves will feature divers on their roster, marking an exciting new chapter for the program after six consecutive seasons without diving representation.

Emma Durning and Autumn Zumpf will lead the resurgence of diving for the Pack, becoming the first student-athletes to represent CSU Pueblo in diving competition since the 2019-20 season.

The addition of During and Zumpf provides the ThunderWolves with an opportunity to compete in diving events once again, while also adding another dimension to the program as it looks to climb the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.

With diving officially back in the fold, CSU Pueblo enters the 2026-27 campaign with renewed depth and additional opportunities to score points across both swimming and diving events.

THUNDERWOLVES PICKED SIXTH IN RMAC PRESEASON POLL

CSU Pueblo enters the 2026-27 season picked sixth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The ThunderWolves received 24 points in the voting, tying Nebraska-Kearney for sixth place in the nine-team conference.

Defending RMAC champion Colorado Mesa was selected as the preseason favorite, earning eight first-place votes, while Colorado School of Mines was picked second.

The Pack will look to build upon last season's sixth-place finish at the RMAC Championships, where CSU Pueblo accumulated 538 points and recorded numerous strong individual and relay performances.

With the return of several All-RMAC performers, along with the reinstatement of diving, CSU Pueblo will look to continue making strides within the conference throughout the 2026-27 campaign.

UP NEXT

Following the season-opening Rodionoff Invitational, the ThunderWolves will continue their 2026-27 schedule as they work toward the RMAC Swimming & Diving Championships, scheduled for Feb. 9-13, 2027, at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colo.