CLEVELAND, OH -- The NCAC Swimming & Diving Championships return to the Trumbull Aquatics Center on the campus of Denison University in Granville, Ohio, for the ninth-straight year. The nation's top Division III conference meet begins on Wednesday, February 8, and runs through Saturday, February 11.
The Denison men and the Kenyon women are defending champions. Overall, Kenyon has won 24 men's and 27 women's championships of the 37 NCAC titles contested. The Denison men are the only team to defeat Kenyon at the NCAC meet, claiming titles in 1997, from 2009-2019 and in 2022. The Denison women snapped the Owls' 19-year hold on the league crown in 2004, with Kenyon regaining control of the title from 2005-08, leading to Denison's run of seven straight from 2009-2015. The Kenyon women recaptured the championship in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022, while the Big Red women raised the trophy in 2017 and 2020. No championship was conducted in 2021.
Founded in 1983, the North Coast Athletic Conference consists of nine academically selective colleges and universities - Denison University, DePauw University, Hiram College, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Wabash College, Wittenberg University and the College of Wooster along with affiliate members Allegheny College and Earlham College. The NCAC sponsors 23 championship sports, 11 for men and 12 for women.
Team-by-Team Previews
WOMEN'S PREVIEWS
KENYON, the top team in the CSCAA Division III Poll, has a loaded roster for the 2023 NCAC Championships, one that will be anchored by a trio of seniors and a pair of sophomores. Senior Alexandra White (Greensboro, NC/Wesleyan Christian Acad.) holds the conference's top time in both the 50 (22.83) and 100 (50.18) freestyle events, while classmate Olivia Smith (Spanish Fort, AL/Daphne), the two-time NCAC champion and current NCAC recordholder in the 100 backstroke, is currently leading the league in the 100 (54.79) and 200 (1:59.87) back events along with owning the top time in the 100 butterfly (54.79). Senior Ania Axas (Ludlow, MA/Wilbraham & Monson Acad.) is prepared to defend her title in the 200 fly with the NCAC's fastest time this season thus far, 2:02.07. Sophomores Jennah Fadely (Siler City, NC/Jordan Matthews) and Gabby Wei (Hong Kong/Hong Kong International) will lead the way in the breaststroke and individual medley events. Fadely, the 2022 NCAC champion in the 100 breast, currently holds the NCAC's fastest time in the event this season at 1:00.36 and the top time in the 200 IM (2:02.53). The 2022 Newcomer of the Year also has the second-quickest time in the 200 breast (2:14.34), while Wei will look to defend her title in 200 breast, entering the meet with the top time this season (2:13.82) to go along with the fastest 400 IM (4:22.42) to date. Freshman Lisa Torrecillas-Jouault (Le Mans, France/CENS) has posted the league's second-best time in the 100 back (55.85) and the third-fastest time in the 100 free (50.83), while classmate Emma Kelley (Albuquerque, NM/Sandia Prep) has the second-best 200 back (2:02:02) and sophomore Celia Ford (Silver Spring, MD/Albert Einstein) owns the third-best 100 fly (55.48). Junior Caleigh Wukitch (Needham, MA/Ursuline Academy) will also look to produce in the backstroke events, posting the conference's third-best time in the 100 (56.15) and the fourth-best in the 200 (2:02.88) heading into the NCAC meet. Freshman Molly Haag (Middleton, WI/Middleton) has posted Kenyon's top time and the conference's fourth-fastest time in the 500 (4:59.05) and 1650 (17:13.50) free events. Junior Katarina Ilic (Beograd, Serbia/Sportska gimnazija) will lead the Owls in the diving well. Kenyon enters the conference championship with the top times in the 400 free relay (3:22.94), 200 medley relay (1:39.92) and 400 medley relay (3:42.44).
DENISON, which enters the conference meet ranked fourth in the nation in the CSCAA Top-25, will rely on a core group of veterans along with a large contingent of underclassmen over the course of the four-day meet. Junior Tara Witkowski (West Chester, OH/Lakota East) has posted the NCAC's only sub-17-minute effort in the 1650 free this season at 16:58.63, while sophomore Taryn Wisner (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) currently holds the NCAC's second-best time in the event (17:06.00). Freshman Quinn Brown (Portland, OR/Grant) currently owns the quickest 500 free (4:53.92), followed closely by Witkowski (4:56.45) and Wisner (4:57.57). Junior Esme Wright (Cincinnati, OH/Walnut Hills) owns the conference's fastest 200 free (1:50.78) and will look to defend her title in the 400 IM, after recording the NCAC's second-best time in the event this season (4:23.44). Wright also holds the NCAC's second-best 100 IM time (59.54). Senior Tara Culibrk (Belgrade, Serbia/International School of Savremena) owns the league's second-fastest time in the 50 (23.25), 100 (50.67) and
200 (1:51.11) free events. Senior Savannah Sargent (Victor, NY/Bellport) will look to make a splash in the individual medleys, posting the NCAC's best 100 (59.33), second-fastest 200 (2:03.79) and third-quickest 400 (4:23.60) times this season, while freshman Phoebe Ferguson (Columbus, OH/Grandview Heights) is right behind Sargent in the 200 IM with the third-best conference time (2:03.92). In the breaststroke events, senior CC Crane (Evervgreen, CO/Evergreen) and freshman Drue Thielking (Brighton, MI/Brighton) own the second- (1:02.80) and third- (1:03.15) fastest league times in the 100, while Thielking has the third-best time in the 200 (2:17.46). Sophomore Claire Moody (Charlottesville, VA/Albermarle) will lead the Big Red in the backstroke events, as she currently has the third-quickest time the 200 (2:02.08) and fourth-best time in the 100 (56.30). In the butterfly events, sophomores Amber Croonquist (Champlin, MN/Maranatha Christian) and Maja Palmroos (San Diego, CA/Del Norte) have the second- (55.38) and fourth- (55.57) best times in the 100, while classmate Maria Mrosko (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands) and freshman Kayla Tehrani (Aspen, CO/Aspen) own the second- (2:05.01) and third- (2:05.02) quickest times in the 200 fly this season. In the diving well, junior Maggie Seftenberg (Glencoe, IL/New Trier) and sophomore Kerstyn Johnson (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) will look to score points on both the one- and three-meter boards. The Big Red own the fastest 200 free relay (1:32.31) and 800 free relay (7:29.50) times heading into the 2023 NCAC Championships.
DEPAUW looks for another top-four finish in this year's standings, as the Tigers have never placed lower than fourth since joining the league for the 2011-12 season. In the backstroke events, sophomore Madeleine Collier (St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves) has the seventh-fastest time in the conference in the 200 (2:06.11), while freshman Caroline Stowe (Matthews, NC/Butler) owns the NCAC's 11th-best time in the 100 (58.84). Senior Mei-Li Minnich (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence Central), sophomore Mia Hagenauer (Cincinnati, OH/Wyoming) and senior Emily Thompson (Fort Washington, PA/Germantown Academy) currently hold the ninth- (1:02.83), 10th- (1:03.09) and 11th- (1:03.58) quickest 100 IM times in the NCAC, respectively. Sophomore Elise Umbach (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) owns top-15 conference times in three different events, including the 100 (1:05.63) and 200 (2:26.31) breaststroke events and the 400 IM (4:37.66). Umbach also owns a top-25 time in the 200 IM (2:10.77). Classmate Tara Holder (Cicero, IN/Hamilton Heights) has recorded an NCAC top-15 time in the 500 free (5:07.87) and a top-20 time in the 200 free (1:54.62). Freshman Grace McKinney (Pendleton, IN/Pendleton Heights) owns a top-15 time in the 1650 free (18:19.67) and senior Tarah Lang (Marshall, MI/Marshall) holds top-25 times in the 50 (24.44) and 100 (53.24) free events. Minnich, sophomore Maggie Peats (Indianapolis, IN/Roncalli) and freshman Libby Ruff (Westerville, OH/St. Francis DeSales) all hold a top-25 time in the conference in the butterfly events, as Ruff is 17th in the 200 fly (2:12.22) and Minnich and Peats are 22nd (1:00.88) and 24th (1:01.03) in the 100 fly. The Tigers enter the 2023 conference meet with the third-quickest time in all five relay events, including the 200 (1:37.16), 400 (3:35.58) and 800 (7:48.10) free relays, and the 200 (1:46.91) and 400 (3:56.40) medley relays.
WOOSTER will bring a youthful roster to the 2023 NCAC championship as the Fighting Scots have just two seniors on the roster. Veteran Kay Wetmore (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) will enter her final championship meet with a top-25 seed time in three different events, sitting in 13th in the 1650 free (18:12.95), 17th in the 100 fly (59.60) and 22nd in the 200 fly (2:16.88). Classmate Min Kim (Wooster, OH/Wooster) owns a top-35 time in the 100 (1:03.26) and 200 (2:18.17) back events. Junior Maddie Becker (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) owns top-15 times in the conference in the 100 (1:07.26) and 200 (2:28.58) breast events, a top-25 time in the 200 IM (2:11.29) and a top-30 time in the 100 back (1:02.12). In the free events, classmate Emma Connors (Coraoplis, PA/Moon Area) has posted a top-15 league time in the 1650 (18:07.10) and a top-25 time in the 500 (5:16.54). Sophomore Ollie Bream (Pinehurst, TX/Firbank Grammar School (Australia)) will make an impact in the butterfly and individual medleys as she has the NCAC's fourth-quickest 200 fly (2:05.14) and a top-25 time in the 100 fly (1:00.62) to go along with the 12th-fastest 100 (1:03.73) and 400 (4:33.77) IM's and the 13th-best 200 IM (2:07.39). Classmate Hallie Findlan (Jefferson Hills, PA/Thomas Jefferson) will also look to make a splash in the free events, with a top-15 seed time in the 50 (24.11) and a top-30 time in the 100 (53.44). Findlan also owns a top-30 time in the 100 back (1:02.54), while sophomore Izzy Bellefleur (Auburn, ME/Edward Little) holds top-25 seed time in the 100 (1:10.55) and 200 (2:31.88) breaststrokes. Three first-years will look to make an impact in their first conference meets. Lacey Mindock (Oswego, IL/Rosary) owns the NCAC's eighth-fastest time in the 1650 free (17:51.12) and a top-20 time in the 500 free (5:12.46) and 400 IM (4:49.71), while Gracie Duchon (Chardon, OH/Chardon) has recorded the sixth-quickest time in 100 IM (1:00.83) and a top-20 time in the 100 fly (59.61). Rookie Emma Humbert (Kensington, MD/Albert Einstein) has posted a top-30 time in the league in the 200 back (2:16.07). Wooster enters the NCAC meet with the fourth-best relay time in the 400 (3:37.67) and 800 (8:01.04) free relays and the 200 (1:48.91) and 400 (4:08.96) medley relays.
OBERLIN enters the 2023 NCAC Championship featuring one senior, six juniors, 13 sophomores and four first-years. Senior Elly Ragone (South Orange, NJ/Columbia) will compete in her final NCAC championship this season, and brings with her the league's 17th-fastest time in the 50 free (24.27) and a top-35 time in the 100 free (54.20). Junior Audrey Weber (George Town, Grand Cayman/Peddie School) and Hannah Hale (Ellicott City, MD) each hold top-30 times going into the meet. Weber currently sits in the top-25 in both the 100 (1:11.33) and 200 (2:37.85) breast events, and is in the top-30 in the 100 IM (1:08.20), while Hale will enter the conference meet with the 27th-fastest time in the 500 free (5:27.82). A strong core of sophomores look to make a splash after recording top-30 times in the NCAC this season. Ava Peyton (Menlo Park, CA/Menlo-Atherton) leads the way for the second-year swimmers, owning the 16th-best time in the 100 IM (1:04.94), the 23rd-quickest time in the 100 back (1:01.40) and the 28th-fastest time in the 200 back (2:18.07). Classmates Bella Sites (Dripping Springs, TX/Dripping Springs) and Ava Schigur (Stoughton, WI / Stoughton) join Peyton in the 100 IM with top-25 times, as Sites owns the 18th-best time (1:05.42) and Schigur has the 25th-quickest time (1:07.73). Schigur and Sites also own the 26th- (4:59.15) and 29th-(5:02.94) fastest 400 IM times, while Schigur has posted Oberlin's fastest time in the 200 fly (2:23.95). In the freestyle events, sophomore Charlotte Hantus (Gate Mills, OH/Mayfield HS) owns the Yeowomen's fastest 1650 (19:12.96) and the NCAC's 29th-quickest 500 (5:29.55), while classmate Lucy Lee (Richmond, VT/Mount Mansfield Union) has the 22nd-fastest 1650 (19:29.07). Sophomores Elinor Frost (South Haven, MI/South Haven) (1:01.14) and Izzy Pfaff (East Lexington, VA/Rockbridge County) (1:01.48) own Oberlin's fastest 100 fly times, while sophomore Skye Slade (Glenview, IL/Glenbrook South HS) has the NCAC's 27th-best time in the 100 breast (1:11.66) and first-year Sophia Nicholson (Livingston, TX/Venice) has Oberlin's best time in the 200 back (2:17.91). Sophomore Helene Prince (Washington, D.C.) will look to score points in the diving well on both boards. Oberlin enters the meet with the fourth-best time in the 200 free relay (1:38.52).
OHIO WESLEYAN will rely on a mix of experience, as the Battling Bishops have five seniors, one junior, four sophomores and five first-years on the roster. Senior Evelyn VanderVelde (Holland, MI/Holland) will be the team's top threat, with the NCAC's 16th-fastest time in both the 100 (1:08.56) and 200 (2:28.60) breaststroke events, to go along with the conference's 19th-quickest 400 IM (4:48.58). VanderVelde also owns OWU's top time in the 50 (26.51), 100 (57.17), 200 (2:03.76) and 500 (5:40.73) free events. Junior Siarra Hoover (Frazeysburg, OH/Newark Licking Valley) and sophomore Lily Davis (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) have each posted top-30 marks in the NCAC. Hoover owns the 19th-quickest time in the 100 IM (1:05.82), the 26th-fastest time in the 100 breast (1:11.64); Davis has the 25th-best 200 fly (2:23.87) and the 29th-quickest 100 fly (1:01.42). Sophomore Josie Stark (Sandusky, OH/Margaretta) recorded the league's 18th-best time in the 200 breast (2:31.15) and holds top times for Ohio Wesleyan in the 100 back (1:03.55) and 200 IM (2:16.20). Senior Alyssa O'Sullivan (Hilliard, OH/Bishop Watterson) will lead OWU in the 200 back (2:20.67), while rookie Elisabeth Madore (Lexington, OH/Lexington) enters conference with the team's fastest 1650 free (22:59.77).
HIRAM will be led by juniors Moraine Jackson (Solon, OH/Solon) and Elena Rinaldi (Cleveland Heights, OH/Cleveland Heights), who each hold top times in five different championship events for the Terriers. Jackson owns Hiram's fastest time in the 100 (1:01.78) and 200 (2:17.99) free events, the 100 (1:10.87) and 200 (2:37.04) back events and the 400 IM (5:31.00), while Rinaldi has posted the team's top time in the 50 free (27.59), the 100 (1:03.75) and 200 (2:35.60) fly events and the 100 (1:09.30) and 200 (2:36.55) IM's. The pair have also complimented each other by posting the second-quickest times on the squad in several events. Rinaldi is second in the 100 (1:02.05) and 200 (2:20.06) free events, while Jackson is No. 2 on the squad in the 50 (27.81) and 500 (6:14.95) free events, the 100 fly (1:24.29) and the 200 IM (2:43.84). In the breaststroke events, senior Lilly MacDonald (North Ridgeville, OH/North Ridgeville) will lead the way after collecting Hiram's top-times in both the 100 (1:16.12) and 200 (2:56.99). MacDonald has also posted the Terrier's second-fastest times in the 100 (1:09.37) and 400 (6:17.70) IM's. Sophomore Natalie Brown (Hudson, OH/Hudson) will join MacDonald in the breaststroke events as she owns the second-quickest times on the team in both the 100 (1:19.97) and 200 (3:13.80) and will lead the team in both the 500 (6:05.53) and 1650 (20:47.08) free events. Other contenders to watch include senior Carrie Robinson (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington), junior Madelyn Sagle (Backlick, OH/Licking Heights), sophomore Adrianna Klepper (Uniontown, OH/Green) and rookies Grace Basham (Hubbard, OH/Hubbard) and Becca Johnston (Cuyahoga Falls, OH/Cuyahoga Falls).
WITTENBERG will be led by junior Mackenzie Schuld (Rocky River, OH/Rocky River), who is the only Tiger that has NCAC championship experience. Schuld enters the 2023 meet with 10 of Wittenberg's top-times and holds two top-25 NCAC seed times in the 500 free (5:21.12) and the 200 fly (2:17.13). She has also posted the Tiger's top time in the 100 (58.76) and 200 (2:05.99) free events, the 100 (1:05.01) and 200 (2:20.27) back events, the 100 breast (1:21.93), the 100 fly (1:04.47) and the 200 (2:25.44) and 400 (4:52.73) IM's. First-year McKenna Clark (Waynesville, OH/Archbishop Carroll HS) will enter her first conference championship with the quickest 50 free (27.72) and 100 IM (1:13.53) times for Wittenberg. Clark has also posted the team's second-best times in the 100 (1:00.95) and 200 (2:17.81) free events and the 100 back (1:16.67). Classmate Addy Payne (Sidney, OH/Sidney HS) holds the Tiger's top 1650 free (21:31.10) and has recorded the second-quickest 500 free (5:55.38) and 100 fly (1:10.89) on the team.
MEN'S PREVIEWS
Defending champion DENISON enters the 2023 NCAC meet ranked ninth in the CSCAA Division III Poll and will rely on a balanced roster featuring key contributions from both veterans and underclassmen. The Big Red will be anchored by the senior duo of Richie Kurlich (Kent, OH/Walsh Jesuit) and Eric Chimes (Broadview Heights, OH/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) and sophomore Lucas Conrads (Naperville, IL/Waubonsie Valley), who combined, own the league's top seed in seven of the 14 swimming events. Kurlich is prepared to defend his title in the 100 individual medley with the NCAC's fastest time this season thus far, 49.54. He also owns the league's fastest time in the 100 breaststroke (53.95), 200 butterfly (1:47.42) and 200 IM (1:47.10). Chimes, who will look to better last year's runner-up finish in the 400 IM, has recorded the NCAC's quickest time in the event this season (3:55.97), while Conrads has the best conference time in the 500 (4:29.15) and 1650 (15:37.32) freestyle events. The trio have recorded six other top-10 times in the NCAC this season, Conrads has the second-quickest 400 IM (3:56.19), while Kurlich has the third-best 100 fly (47.87) and a top-10 time in the 100 free (45.63); Chimes has posted the third-fastest 200 fly (1:48.56), a top-five time in the 200 IM (1:50.69) and the sixth-best 100 IM (52.77). Sophomore Patrick Daly (New Albany, OH/New Albany), the 2022 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, enters the conference meet with the second-fastest 100 (50.50) and 200 (1:48.67) IM times, the third-quickest 200 free (1:40.04) and the sixth-best 100 free (45.15). Junior Sam Myaard (Hudsonville, MI/Hudsonville Public), sophomore Tyler Distenfeld (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) and senior Aidan Lane (Barrington, RI/Barrington) have top-10 times in the freestyle events. Myaard holds the second-quickest 500 (4:32.49), Distenfeld posted the third-best seed time in the 1650 (15:51.23) and Lane owns the eighth-best 50 (20.74). In the breaststroke events, sophomore Elijah Venos (Pleasant Ridge, MI/Brother Rice) has recorded the league's third-quickest 100 (55.22), while freshman Fancesco Assalone (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) owns the third-fastest 200 (2:02.75) and seventh-best 100 (55.80) and sophomore Gavin Jones (Bellingham, WA/Bellingham) has a top-five seed time in the 200 (2:03.58). Sophomore Shea Card (Basalt, CO/Basalt) and freshman James Pastore (Briarcliff Manor, NY/Briarcliff) will lead the way for the Big Red in the backstroke events with top-10 times. Card owns the NCAC's sixth-fastest 100 (49.78) and seventh-best time in the 200 (1:51.69), while Pastore has the No. 6 seed time in the 200 (1:50.65) and the ninth-quickest 100 (50.73). Senior Kristian Kowalski (Mansfield, OH/Ontario HS) and freshman Nick Fogle (Corcoran, MN/Providence Academy) will look to score key points for Denison in the diving well. The Big Red currently own the second-fastest relay times in the 200 (1:23.12), 400 (3:03.57) and 800 (6:48.34) free relays, and the 200 (1:30.90) and 400 (3:20.64) medley relays.
KENYON, ranked second in the CSCAA Top-25, is primed and ready to earn back the NCAC men's championship title. The Owls will be anchored by the senior trio of Bryan Fitzgerald (West Bend, WI/West Bend East), Spencer Pruett (Minneapolis, MN/Blake School) and Luis Weekes (St. Thomas, Barbados/Baylor School) and juniors Yurii Kosian (Odesa, Ukraine/Odesa School 101) and Israel Zavaleta (Mexico City, Mexico/Universidad del Valle de Mexico), who have a combined 11 NCAC titles under their belts. Fitzgerald, the 2022 NCAC Swimmer of the Year and conference recordholder in the 400 IM, owns the league's fastest 200 free (1:38.82), the third-best 500 free (4:32.90) and 200 IM (1:49.59) and the fourth-fastest 1650 free (15:53.24) and 400 IM (3:56.91). Kosian, who owns the NCAC's quickest time in the 100 (47.03) and 200 (1:43.38) back events this season, will look to defend his 200 free title entering the meet with the second-best time this season (1:38.88), while also posting the third-fastest 100 free time (44.78). Pruett, who set the NCAC record in the 200 back, currently has the NCAC's second-best time stamp in the event this season (1:46.24), to go along with the fourth-fastest 100 back (48.42). Weekes, the 2021 NCAC Swimmer of the Year and league recordholder in both the 100 and 200 breast, has posted the conference's top time in the 200 (2:00.00) and the second-fastest 100 (54.55) this season. In the diving well, Zavaleta will look to defend his NCAC title in both the one-meter and three-meter competition. Senior Cherantha De Silva (Colombo, Sri Lanka/Ananda), freshman Djordje Dragojlovic (Begrade, Serbia/Nada Dimic) and junior Marko Krtinic (Bor, Serbia/Gimnazija Patrijarh Pavle) have all posted a top time in the league this season. De Silva has the best 50 free (20.14) to go along with the second-fastest 100 fly (47.70), while Dragojlovic owns the fastest 100 free (44.06) and second-quickest 50 free (20.25) and 100 back (47.55) and Krtinic has recorded the fastest time in the 100 fly (47.45), second-best 200 fly (1:48.23), fourth-quickest 50 free (20.46) and the fifth-fastest 100 free (44.93). Five other Owl swimmers have recorded top-five swims this season including junior Daniel Brooks (Arlington, VA/Yorktown), who owns the second-fastest 100 free (44.57) and third-quickest 50 free (20.34), senior Colin Bowling (Round Rock, TX/Meridian World School), who has the second-best 1650 free (15:50.38) and the fifth-best 500 free (4:33.68), and freshman Ethan Manske (Santa Fe, NM/St. Michaels), who owns the third-quickest 400 IM (3:56.29). Sophomore Nathaniel Wenzel (Dublin, OH/Dublin Scioto) enters the 2023 championship with the fourth-fastest 100 free (44.80) and senior Liam Sweeney (Lexington, MA/Lexington) owns the fifth-best 50 free (20.48). Kenyon enters the conference championship with the top times in the 200 (1:20.44), 400 (2:58.03) and 800 (6:40.89) free relays, and the 200 (1:27.52) and 400 (3:14.50) medley relays.
WABASH will bring a youthful roster to the 2023 NCAC championship as the Little Giants have just five seniors on the roster. Senior Jacob Penrose (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence North) boasts a top-20 seed time in three different events, sitting in 15th in the 1650 (16:55.15), 17th in the 200 fly (1:59.10) and 18th in the 400 IM (4:16.66). Penrose also owns the 27th-best 500 free (4:50.73). Classmate Caleb McCarty (Decatur, IN/Bellmont) owns a top-30 time in the 50 (21.11), 100 (46.95) and 200 (1:44.88) freestyle events, while senior Marc Nicholson (Chesterton, IN/Chesterton) has collected a top-30 time in the 100 back (54.56). Sophomore Ethan Johns (Carmel, IN/Carmel) owns three top-30 seed times in the freestyle events, sitting in 15th in the 200 (1:42.64), 24th in the 50 (21.60) and 26th in the 100 (46.85) while also owning Wabash's top time in 100 fly (52.74). Classmate Connor Craig (Granger, IN/Penn) has posted a top-30 50 free (21.76), while freshman Xander Straw (Mooresville, IN/Plainfield) has produced a top-15 time in the 500 free (4:39.16) and a top-30 time in the 200 free (1:45.38). Sophomore Justice Wenz (Houston, TX/Lutheran North) owns three top-30 times in the league, sitting in 16th in the 100 IM (55.48), 19th in the 200 breast (2:10.17) and 27th in the 100 breast (1:00.17), while freshman Eddie DaMata (Cornelius, NC/William Amos Hough) has produced top-25 times in the breaststroke events, owning the 21st-best seed time in the 100 (59.36) and 23rd seed time in the 200 (2:14.38) and classmate Dane Market (Plainfield, IN/Cascade) has the 26th seed time in the 200 (2:15.89). Market has also produced the 28th-quickest 400 IM (4:31.63), while sophomore Nic Hakimian (Parma Heights, OH/Valley Forge) holds the 18th-fastest 100 IM (55.81). In the backstroke events, rookie Barret Smith (Richardson, TX/McKinney North) has the 17th-quickest 200 (1:57.38) and 21st-best 100 (53.13) while holding the Little Giants' best 200 IM time (2:01.65). Sophomore Will Morris (Plainfield, IN/Plainfield) and senior Justin To (Champaign, IL/Central) will look to score points in the diving well. Wabash currently holds the NCAC's third-quickest 200 (1:25.23) and 800 (7:00.82) free relays and the fourth-best 200 medley relay (1:35.43).
DEPAUW will rely on eight upperclassmen to lead an otherwise young roster at the 2023 NCAC Championships. Senior Ben Hilfinger (Beverly Hills, MI/Detroit Country Day) leads the Tigers' senior contingent as he enters the meet with the conference's sixth-best 100 fly (48.60), eighth-quickest 100 free (45.49) and two top-15 freestyle times, as he sits in 12th in the 50 (20.88) and 14th in the 200 (1:42.60). Classmate Patrick Unterreiner (St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves) has produced the league's 20th-best 200 breast (2:10.74) and 400 IM (4:20.39) times, to go along with a top-30 time in the 100 IM (56.89). Unterreiner is also the Tiger's top performer to date in both the 100 breast (1:01.71) and 200 IM (1:59.70). Sophomore Brock Kinnamon (Plainfield, IN/Plainfield) and junior Braden Mallery (Craigville, IN/Norwell) will look to make an impact in the distance freestyle events, as Kinnamon ranks 28th in the 500 free (4:51.44), while Mallery owns the 16th-quickest 1650 (17:09.62) and 29th-best 500 (4:54.94). The junior also owns the NCAC's 16th-best 200 fly (1:58.96). Sophomore Nate Turner (Marshall, MI/Marshall) will lead the way in the backstroke events with the NCAC's 22nd-best 200 (1:58.54) and DePauw's top 100 time (55.17). In the relays, the Tigers enter the meet with the league's third-fastest 400 free (3:07.59) and fourth-best 200 free (1:25.41), 800 free (7:03.03) and 400 medley (3:29.56).
WOOSTER will rely on a trio of veterans along with a large contingent of underclassmen over the course of the four-day meet. Senior Doak Schultz (Mystic, CT/Osbourn Park (VA)) owns the Fighting Scots' top ranking in an individual event among NCAC swimmers at fourth in the 100 IM (52.41), while also turning in the 18th-quickest 100 breast (58.51) and 100 fly (50.54), the 21st-best 50 free (21.21) and the Scots' fastest 100 free (47.33) to date. Classmate Noah Golovan (Hunting Valley, OH/Orange) ranks in the top-25 in the NCAC in three different events with the 14th-best 100 IM (55.39), 23rd-fastest 100 breast (59.52) and 24th-quickest 200 breast (2:15.42). Junior Josh Pearson (Cincinnati, OH/Indian Hill) owns seven top-30 rankings in the NCAC, sitting in seventh in the 200 fly (1:52.37), 10th in the 400 IM (4:04.38), 12th in the 200 IM (1:52.25), 13th in the 100 IM (55.37), 26th in the 100 fly (52.26) and 28th in both the 200 free (1:45.19) and 100 back (54.48). The sophomore class is led by Issac Shaker (Solon, OH/Solon) and Tucker Andrewjeski (Henderson, NV/Green Valley), who have produced four top-15 times and two top-25 times in the league between them. Shaker has the 12th-best 200 fly (1:56.73), 14th-quickest 40 IM (4:09.89) and the 23rd-fastest 500 free (4:45.51), while Andrewjeski ranks No. 15 in both the 200 breast (2:07.64) and 400 IM (4:13.75) and 19th in the 200 IM (1:55.77). In the distance freestyle events, sophomores Ryan Gross (Solon, OH/Solon) and Andre Yazhbin (Solon, OH/Solon) have produced top-30 times, as Yazhbin owns the 19th-best 1650 (17:55.18) and Gross sits in 30th in the 500 (4:56.03). Classmate Max Likins (St. Clair, MI/St. Clair) looks to score points for the Scots in the backstroke events, ranking 23rd-in the 200 (1:58.61) and 30th in the 100 (54.57). Freshman Leo Edmonds-Doberenz (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville Area) will compete in the diving well for Wooster. The Fighting Scots enter the 2023 meet with the league's fourth-best 400 free relay (3:08.21).
OBERLIN brings a roster comprised almost entirely of underclassmen to Granville for the conference meet. Sophomore Myles Felt (Wilton Manors, FL/Fort Lauderdale) ranks among the league's top performers in three different events, which includes owning the 12th-fastest 100 IM (54.96), 15th-best 200 fly (1:57.70) and 16th-quickest 100 back (52.23).The second-year also owns top-25 times in the 500 free (4:48.58) and 400 IM (4:27.69) and a top-30 time in the 200 back (2:03.11). In the breaststroke events, classmate Issac Viviano (Plainwell, MI/Plainwell HS) has produced the 12th-best 100 (57.32) and the 22nd-quickest 200 breast (2:12.52), while sophomore Finley Barber (Louisville, KY/Atherton HS) has produced a top-25 time in the 100 (59.97) and 200 (2:11.57). Viviano also owns Oberlin's fastest 200 IM and ranks 26th in the NCAC with a time of 1:58.17. Freshman Miguel Siwady (San Pedro Sula, Honduras/ Escuela Internacional Sampedrana) looks to make an impact in the freestyle events, ranking 13th in the conference in the 1650 (16:30.75) and 17th in the 500 (4:41.28), while producing Oberlin's fastest 200 (1:46.88), while sophomore Erik Fendorf (Stanford, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS) ranks 15th in the 50 (21.07) and 29th in the 100 (47.00). Siwady also owns the NCAC's 17th-quickest 400 IM (4:16.34), while freshman Leo Powers (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) ranks 19th in the 100 IM (55.94) and 24th in the 400 IM (4:28.45). Powers will also make a splash in the butterfly events, owning the 19th-best 200 (2:00.14) and 21st-quickest 100 (51.72). Freshman Tyler Wang (Palo Alto, CA/Palo Alto) has produced a top-20 time in the conference in the 200 back (1:58.43). In the diving well, senior Lucas Draper (Melbourne, Australia/Viewbank College) will look to score points for Oberlin. The Yeomen enter the 2023 meet with the third-best 200 (1:33.42) and 400 (3:25.10) medley relays.
OHIO WESLEYAN will rely heavily on four seniors to lead the Battling Bishops at the 2023 conference meet. Senior Ezra Ferguson (New Bremen, OH/New Bremen), who will show his strengths in numerous different events over the course of the meet, owns the NCAC's eighth-best 100 IM (53.85) and a top-20 time in the 100 breast (59.35), to go along with OWU's fastest times in the 50 (21.95) and 100 (48.28) freestyle events. Classmate Aamir Motiwala (Karachi, Pakistan/Karachi Grammar School) ranks in the top-20 in the 1650 free (18:04.16) and in the top-30 of the 200 fly (2:05.13), while also producing Ohio Wesleyan's quickest 500 free (5:06.98). Senior Owen Kennedy (Columbus, OH/Bishop Hartley) has a top-25 time in both the 200 back (2:01.11) and 100 IM (56.60) to go along with the 27th-best 100 back (54.34), while classmate Ian Jarvis (Pataskala, OH/Watkins Memorial) owns two top-30 times in the league in the 100 breast (1:01.53) and 100 IM (57.16). Jarvis has also posted top times for the Bishops in the 200 breast (2:21.28) and 200 IM (2:03.50). Ohio Wesleyan will look for production from freshman Evan Lucas (Cincinnati, OH/ Loveland), who owns two top-25 seed times, sitting in 23rd in the 200 fly (2:02.58) and 24th in the 100 IM (56.53). Lucas has also recorded the Battling Bishops' top time 100 fly (52.60), while junior Brode Gibson (Hamilton, OH/Badin) has OWU's top time in the 400 IM (4:40.34) and freshman Chase Ellis (Hilliard, OH/Darby) has recorded the team's fastest 200 free (1:47.32).
HIRAM brings a group of youthful performers to the conference meet this season. Sophomores Dayne Sauter (Bakersfield, CA/Bakersfield) and Adam Ellis (Columbus, OH/Grandview Heights) have combined to post the Terriers' top times this season in six different events, with Sauter posting a top-15 time in the NCAC in the 100 IM (55.44) and a top-30 time in the 100 free (47.14), to go along with the team's best times in the 50 (21.97) and 200 (1:47.33) free events and the 100 back (1:00.77). Ellis has recorded Hiram's best time in the 200 back at 2:09.55, while freshman Owen Pastorius (Pittsburgh, PA/North Hills) has produced a top-30 time in the conference in the 400 IM (4:32.62) and owns the Terriers' quickest times in the 500 free (5:26.03) and 200 fly (2:07.77). Rookies Drew Hostetler (New Philadelphia, PA/New Philadelphia), Jon Hybil (Aurora, OH/Aurora) and Isaac Hetson (Warren, OH/Warren G. Harding) are also looking to make an impact for the Terriers in Granville. Hostetler tops the team's list in the 1650 free (19:32.34), while Hybil owns the top mark on the squad in both the 100 (1:02.51) and 200 (2:19.77) breaststroke events and the 200 IM (2:15.57); Hetson leads Hiram with the quickest 100 fly (59.09)
WITTENBERG junior Zack Parkman (Lancaster, OH/Fisher Catholic) owns four top-30 seed times to lead the Tigers into competition at the NCAC Championships. Parkman ranks 11th in the NCAC in the 200 fly (1:56.12), 21st in the 400 IM (4:23.48), 27th in the 100 fly (52.30) and 30th in the 200 IM (1:59.61). He also owns the Tigers' top time in the 200 free (1:49.91) and 100 back (58.41), while sophomore Quaid O'Brien (Hudson, OH/Walsh Jesuit) owns the team's fastest 200 back (2:23.53) and the league's 24th-best 1650 free (18:25.65). In addition, freshman Mason Steen (Madison, OH/Riverside HS) enters the meet with an NCAC top-30 time in the 200 breast (2:20.60), to go along with posting the Tiger's fastest times in the 50 (23.54), 100 (51.13) and 500 (5:03.62) free events and the quickest 100 breast (1:01.97) and 100 IM (1:00.82) times.