The Reagan Aquatics program is proud to recognize senior Ellie Grace Bailey as she signs her National Letter of Intent to continue both her academic and athletic journey at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Celebrating alongside family, teammates, and coaches, Ellie’s signing represents years of steady commitment, resilience, and passion for swimming.
Head Coach Michael Rourke reflected on Ellie’s journey, saying: “Ellie is one of those success stories that I will use for the rest of my coaching career. Ellie climbed the ranks from JV athlete to D1 athlete in 4 years, and that is a testament to her hard work and willingness to go above and beyond in all that she does. Not only did she become an outstanding athlete in swimming, she became a water polo team captain and showed that it is possible to compete at an exceptional level for both water polo and swimming. Ellie has been one of those athletes that I have always been able to count on, and I have loved having a front seat to her success story. I am so proud of Ellie, and can’t wait to continue watching her compete at the next level.”
Ellie will join the Vaqueros under the direction of Head Coach Betsy Graham, contributing to UTRGV’s newly established NCAA Division I swim program. Ellie plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), combining her academic goals with her dedication to athletics as she helps lay the foundation for a growing collegiate program.
Ellie began her swimming journey with the Promontory Pointe Piranhas summer swim league, where she developed a love for the sport. After three summers of competition, she joined Reagan Aquatics on the JV team and soon transitioned into year-round training with Alamo Area Aquatic Association, steadily building her endurance and strength in distance freestyle events.
A three-year varsity swimmer, Ellie specialized in distance and IM events, including the 1650 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 800 freestyle, 500 freestyle, and 400 IM. Over her high school career, she consistently qualified for championship-level meets, competing at the district level as a sophomore and advancing to both district and regional competitions during her junior and senior seasons.
In addition to swimming, Ellie was a key contributor to the Reagan water polo program. She earned 2nd Team All-District honors her junior year, received Honorable Mention All-District recognition as a senior, and served as team captain, demonstrating strong leadership and commitment across multiple sports. She is also a three-year letterman in both swimming and water polo.
Ellie’s achievements extend beyond athletics. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout high school and has been recognized as a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. Most recently she earned a 2nd team distinction on the prestigious Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State Team. Her talents also extend into the arts, where she was invited to participate in the exclusive VASE art competition. A gifted musician, Ellie plays the violin, ukulele, guitar, and piano.
Deeply committed to her community, Ellie has volunteered more than 120 hours with various charities and faith-based organizations, exemplifying service and compassion.
Congratulations, Ellie! Reagan Swim & Dive celebrates your achievements and looks forward to following your continued success at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.