The 2026 NCAC Swimming and Diving Championships kicked off with an intense showdown between Denison and Kenyon, showcasing the prowess of their swimmers and divers. The event, held from February 10-14 in Granville, Ohio, featured SCY (25 yards) and was streamed live via Meet Mobile and the official website. The first day saw Denison men take the lead, while the women's teams from Kenyon and Denison were neck and neck.
Night 2 Results: Denison Men's Dominance
On the second night, the Denison men showcased their strength, winning three out of four events. Sophomore George Goins claimed the 500 freestyle title with a time of 4:26.22, just shy of his personal best of 4:23.37, which he achieved in the NCAA Division III ‘B’ final last year. The 200 IM witnessed a remarkable performance by Jack Hill, who led a 1-2-3 finish for Denison, touching the wall in 1:47.02, followed by Devin Testin (1:48.18) and Luke Swiggett (1:48.57). John Carroll University's freshman Jacob Florio, new to the NCAC this season, secured fourth place with a time of 1:48.69, setting a new program record.
The 50 free event was dominated by Kenyon's Djordje Dragojlovic, who touched the wall in 19.96, his fastest time of the season. Although Dragojlovic claimed the win, Denison's swimmers secured a 2-3-4 finish with Nick Hensel (2nd, 20.03), Cam Blevins-Mohr (3rd, 20.20), and Samuel Hibbert (4th, 20.28). The Denison men concluded the evening with a triumphant 400 medley relay, defending their previous year's title with a time of 3:12.79, just half a second away from the NCAC record. The relay team comprised Ben Bevill, Liam Nelson, Samuel Hibbert, and Jack Hill.
Night 2 Results: Kenyon Women's Sweep
The Kenyon women continued their dominant performance, sweeping all four swimming events. Senior Molly Haag kicked off the night with a victory in the 500 free, touching the wall in 4:51.06, surpassing her second-place finish from the previous year. Kelsey Van Eldik of Kenyon won the 200 IM in 2:03.72, slightly off her lifetime best of 2:03.64. Denison's Drue Thielking secured second place with a time of 2:04.67.
Lisa Torrecillas-Jouault of Kenyon claimed the 50 free title in 23.21, outpacing teammate Kate Bogan, who finished second in 23.24. This marked Torrecillas-Jouault's best time, surpassing her previous best of 23.33, which she achieved in the 2025 D3 NCAAs. Kenyon's 400 medley relay team, consisting of Gwen Eisenbeis, Kelsey Van Eldik, Nora Kortuem, and Torrecillas-Jouault, won with a time of 3:40.97, with Torrecillas-Jouault anchoring the relay in 49.79.
Denison's Lu-si Minnich emerged victorious in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 421.30, preventing a complete sweep by Kenyon. Despite Denison's win, Kenyon's diving team dominated, finishing 2-3-4-5, while Denison's divers placed 1-6.
Updated Team Scores
- Denison University - 708.5
- Kenyon College - 597.5
- John Carroll University - 360
- DePauw University - 350
- Wabash College - 318
- Oberlin College - 260
- College of Wooster - 249
- Ohio Wesleyan University - 179
Wittenberg University - 97
Kenyon College - 719
Denison University - 602
DePauw University - 475
John Carroll University - 325
College of Wooster - 256
Wittenberg University - 226
Oberlin College - 213
Ohio Wesleyan University - 174
This championship event showcased the talent and determination of these swimmers and divers, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the final day's results.
