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FMC Aquatic Club’s Ella Houston has verbally committed to the Southern Methodist University Mustangs women’s program for the fall of 2026.
I’m beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Southern Methodist University! I am so lucky to have had the unconditional support of my parents, sisters, teammates and coaches to help get me to this point. I also want to give a big thank you to Coach Ozzie and the SMU coaching staff for this incredible opportunity. I can’t wait to continue my journey on the Hilltop! Pony Up! 🐎🆙
At the Speedo Sectionals in Westmont (LCM) in July of 2024, Houston took home the win in the 1500 freestyle, clocking a 17:26.09, a time she would top later that summer at the Futures Championships in Minneapolis, where she finished 2nd in 17:17.50.
Houston has consistently improved her placing at the Illinois High School State Championship meet year after year in the 500 free, having placed 5th as a freshman (4:59.19), 3rd as a sophomore (4:54.44), and most recently placed 2nd as a junior (4:51.11) for Buffalo Grove High School.
Her performance last season in the 500 free earned her NISCA All-American honors.
Houston also competed at the Winter Junior National Championships – West for FMC Aquatic Club. Last December, Houston finished 21st in the 1650 free (16:53.15), 49th in the 500 free (4:57.94), and 74th in the 200 free (1:52.45).
Best Times SCY:
- 200 Free: 1:50.65
- 500 Free: 4:50.70
- 1000 Free: 9:59.42
- 1650 Free: 16:53.15
The SMU women finished 14th at last season’s ACC Swimming and Diving Championships.
Based on Houston’s best times, she would have finished 30th in the 1650 free, 41st in the 500 free, and 55th in the 200 free.
Houston is the daughter of collegiate athletes; her mother was a swimmer at John Carroll University, where she met her father, who was a golfer at John Carroll.
Houston, who serves as class president and is a member of the National Honor Society at Buffalo Grove High School, brings plenty of distance-free depth to the Mustangs’ roster.
Her expertise goes beyond her distance freestyle, as she holds a very respectable 200 breaststroke best of 2:20.06, which would have finished as the 42nd fastest performer at last season’s ACCs.
Houston will join the Mustangs’ 2026 recruiting class in Dallas in the fall of 2026. The class includes Emma Hagberg, Tessa Christansen, and Emma Bibza.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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honestly run far away from anything to do with Ozzie’s programming… has yet to produce results at SMU, doesn’t know how to train any event besides the 50 free, blames the girls rather than take accountability for his own actions, and somehow can’t fill a roster in a climate where teams are cutting rosters down and he could be giving 10+ opportunities
There are reasons why women keep leaving the program by choice besides the many he cut beyond the stories he tells to justify it all. Anyone considering the program needs to do their homework and look beyond his words.
Congrats!