Aggies Dub 2022-23 Team Captains

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M women's swimming & diving team named Mollie Wright, Abby Grottle, Abigail Ahrens and Alyssa Clairmont team captains for the 2022-23 season.
 
Wright returns for her fifth season to serve as team captain for her second straight year. After battling back from injury, she continued to drop time in almost all her events, clocking top-three times on the team in the 500, 1000 and 1650 free. Last season, the Midland, Texas, native earned the Aggie Heart Award at the team banquet to honor her leadership on the team.
 
"My 'why' these past few years, as I have gotten older, is to give back to a team that has given me so much. I think of how I can serve others because Texas A&M and this team have contributed so much to who I am now," Wright said of what motivates her as a captain.
 
"Our cultural goals this season are to respect each other and maintain good chemistry. We are all so excited to be hosting [SEC Championships] and for us fifth-years we did not think it would happen, but we got the opportunity now which makes it even more special. SECs are already a big deal, so having it here is just that much more motivating."
 
Grottle returns as one of the team's key distance swimmers and prepares to lead the team in her second season in Aggieland. She made an immediate impact at her first SEC Championships, dropping time for a point earning finish in the 1650 free, 16:22.37, while also adding double digit points in the B final with a time of 4:50.59 in the 500.
 
"It means so much to me to be a captain on this team because I am a transfer and was really happy when I first came and the girls welcomed me in. I am really excited to be able to lead such a large group of girls and now I can help them along the way," Grottle said of her selection as team captain.
 
Junior Ahrens comes off of an impactful season last year, finishing the season with the second best time on the team in the 200 back, 1:55.61. She was also a key contributor in the 400 and 200 IM. Ahrens was recognized for her dedication in and out of the pool at last year's team banquet, receiving the Iron Woman Sports Performance Award and Hansen Optimist Award.  
 
"We are so excited to represent the 12th man at home and have them here supporting us. Hopefully we get the yell leaders and all the fans to come out. It is going to be electric on deck. We are already all talking about it and it is something we are super excited about. It is on our turf so we gotta represent."
 
After collecting the Diving MVP award at the team banquet following her 2021-22 season, Clairmont was selected as diving captain. The senior holds the fifth best platform score in program history, boasting a 304.85. Clairmont qualified for NCAA Championships on both springboards as well as the platform after an impressive performance at Zones that included the top score on the tower.
 
Claremont said, "I feel like I am following a really strong line of team captains and I am very proud to be one. I want to lead the team as best I can, lead by example, and create a hard working but also fun environment.
 
With diving, we want to get as many people to Zones as possible and then as many people to NCAAs as we can. We have a really strong dive team this year. Our freshmen are looking really good already and we have only been training for a short time. Everyone seems to be catching on to the routine and I think that it is going to go really well this season."
 
The Aggies kick off their season at home against Houston on Oct. 6. The meet is slated to start at 3 p.m. at the Rec Center Natatorium. 
 
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women's swimming & diving. Fans can keep up to date with the Aggies Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter by following @AggieSwimDive.