CLEVELAND, OH -- The NCAC Swimming & Diving Championships return to the Trumbull Aquatics Center on the campus of Denison University in Granville, Ohio, for the tenth-straight year. The nation's top Division III conference meet begins on Wednesday, February 14, and runs through Saturday, February 17.
The Kenyon men and the Denison women are defending champions. Overall, Kenyon has won 25 men's and 27 women's championships of the 38 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, 2020, and 2023. 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, Earlham College, Transylvania University and Washington & Jefferson College. The NCAC sponsors 23 championship sports, 11 for men and 12 for women.
Team-by-Team Previews
WOMEN'S PREVIEWS
Defending champion DENISON enters the conference meet as the top team in the CSCAA Division III Poll. The Big Red are looking to earn their 12th crown with a roster packed full of NCAC-best times this season. After fifth- and seventh-place finishes in the 50 and 100 freestyles a season ago, junior Grace Kadlecik (Lansing, NY/Lansing) heads into the 2024 conference championship with the league's fastest times in both events (23.19, 51.23). After a third-place finish in the 100 individual medley last season, sophomore Phoebe Ferguson (Columbus, OH/Grandview Heights) enters the meet with the fastest time to date (59.22) and is also tied for the top time in the 100 butterfly with junior teammate Maja Palmroos (San Diego, CA/Del Norte) as they both posted a time of 55.17 seconds, while sophomore Emily Harris (Castalian Springs, TN/Ensworth) owns the fastest 200 fly (2:00.92) in the NCAC. First-year Olivia Chow (Union, NJ/Mount Saint Mary Academy) will look to make a splash in the 200 individual medley, holding the league's fastest time in the event (2:02.59). Senior Esme Wright (Cincinnati, OH/Walnut Hills) holds top-three times in the individual medleys with the second-fastest 100 (59.83) and 400 (4:23.02), to go along with the third-best 200 (2:03.58). Wright also holds the second-quickest time in the NCAC in the 200 free (1:50.02). Classmate Tara Witkowski (West Chester, OH/Lakota East) has posted the third-best 100 IM (1:00.02) and fifth-quickest 400 IM (4:25.94), while owning the second-best 500 free (4:53.33). Sophomore Quinn Brown (Portland, OR/Grant), the 2023 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, will look to improve upon her third- and fourth-place finishes in the 500 and 1650 freestyles from a season ago, as she enters with the and third-fastest 500 (4:53.84) and second-best 1650 (16:49.01). In the breaststroke events, sophomore Drue Thielking (Brighton, MI/Brighton) holds the second-best 100 (1:02.39) and the third-quickest 200 (2:15.93) this season. Rookies Jasmine Park (Lakeway, TX/Hyde Park) and Chow lead the Big Red in the backstroke events. In the 100, Park holds the second-fastest time in the NCAC at 55.58, while Chow has the fourth-best at 56.81. Chow has posted the second-best 200 (2:00.63), while Park has the fourth-fastest time (2:02.99). In the diving well, 2023 NCAC Diver of the Year junior Kerstyn Johnson (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) will look to defend her one- and three-meter titles, while sophomore Lu-si Minnich (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence Central) hopes to improve upon her third-place finish in the one-meter event and runner-up finish on the three-meter board from a season ago. Denison owns the conference's fastest 200 (1:33.18) and 800 (7:24.46) free relays along with the quickest 200 medley relay (1:42.17) heading into the 2024 NCAC Championships.
KENYON enters the conference meet ranked second in the nation in the CSCAA Top-25. The Owls own the top time in the NCAC in eight of the 14 individual swimming events. First-year Bengisu Caymaz (Istanbul, Turkey/Eyuboglu) enters the 2024 conference meet with the fastest time in three freestyle events including the 200 (1:49.65), 500 (4:50.39) and 1650 (16:39.30), while also owning the second-fastest time in the 200 butterfly (2:02.93). Sophomore Molly Haag (Middleton, WI/Middleton) has posted Kenyon's second-best times in both the 1650 free (16:51.92) and 500 free (4:56.95). After earning a third-place and a runner-up finish in the 100 and 200 backstroke events a season ago, senior Caleigh Wukitch (Needham, MA/Ursuline Academy) heads into the NCAC meet with the fastest 100 (55.04) and has posted the conference's only sub-two-minute effort in the 200 this season at 1:59.39. Junior Jennah Fadely (Siler City, NC/Jordan Matthews), the two-time NCAC champion and current NCAC recordholder in the 100 breaststroke, is currently leading the league in the 100 (1:01.13). The 2023 NCAC Swimmer of the Year also owns the second-fastest 200 breast (2:15.22) and 200 individual medley (2:02.96). Classmate Gabby Wei (Hong Kong/Hong Kong International) is prepared to defend her title in the 200 breast with the NCAC's fastest time this season thus far (2:14.27). Wei also has the third-best 100 breast heading into the NCAC meet (1:02.50). Senior Sophie Schmitz (Madison, WI/James Madison Memorial) has posted the league's best time in the 400 IM (4:22.40) and the fourth-fastest time in the 200 fly (2:03.98), while first-year Sofia Giordano (East Moriches, NY/Manhasset Senior) has the third-quickest 200 fly (2:03.65). Sophomore Gwen Eisenbeis (Okemos, MI/Williamston) and junior Sydney Geboy (Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet) currently hold the second- (23.39) and fourth- (23.57) fastest times in the 50 free, while Geboy also owns the second-quickest 100 free (51.37). Sophomore Ceyda Yazici (Istanbul, Turkey/Final Anatolian) holds Kenyon's second-fastest times in the 200 free (1:50.60), 200 back (2:03.32) and the 200 IM (2:04.77), while junior Celia Ford (Silver Spring, MD/Albert Einstein) has posted Kenyon's top time and the conference's seventh-best time in the 100 fly (56.46). In the diving well, senior Katarina Ilic (Beograd, Serbia/Sportska gimnazija), sophomore Brooke Heis (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and junior Naomi Kennel (Rochester, MN/Mayo) hold the No. 1-3 highest scores in the NCAC on the one-meter board, respectively. while senior Claire Fergusson (Alexandria, VA/St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School), first-year Olive O'Dorisio (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson) and sophomore Bryn Tieman (Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge) own the three best scores in the conference in the three-meter event. In the relays, the Kenyon Owls enter the conference championship with the top times in the 400 free (3:25.19) and 400 medley (3:44.38).
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, which includes placing third in four of the last six championship meets. First-year Mckeznzie Ortolano (Chesapeake, VA/Oscar Frommel Smith) enters her first conference meet with the ninth-fastest time in the NCAC in the 100 individual medley (1:01.84). Classmate Anya Melson (Wheaton, IL/Homeschooled (US Performance Academy)) and sophomore Caroline Stowe (Matthews, NC/Butler) hold top-15 backstroke times in the NCAC; Melson is 11th in the 200 (2:05.60) and Stowe is 13th in the 100 (58.66). Stowe also owns the NCAC's 20th-best 50 freestyle (24.34) and 26th-fastest 100 free (53.44). Also in the freestyle events, junior Megan Mackenzie (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester Adams) owns a top-15 time in the 1650 (17:56.83), while classmate Tara Holder (Cicero, IN/Hamilton Heights) holds top-20 times in the 500 (5:09.75) and 200 (1:54.63). Junior Elise Umbach (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) heads into the meet with DePauw's top times in the breaststroke events and two individual medleys. Umbach owns the NCAC's 11th-fastest 200 breast (2:25.09) and 12th-quickest 100 breast (1:06.33), while also having the league's 19th-quickest 400 IM (4:38.61) and 21st-best 200 IM (2:09.49). In the butterfly events, sophomore Libby Ruff (Westerville, OH/St. Francis DeSales) is ranked 22nd in the 200 (2:16.93), while Ortolano owns the NCAC's 35th-best time in the 100 (1:00.34). The Tigers enter the 2024 conference meet with the third-quickest time in all five relay events, which includes the 200 (1:37.42), 400 (3:34.37) and 800 (7:49.25) free relays, and the 200 (1:47.43) and 400 (3:58.15) medley relays.
WOOSTER will rely on a quartet of veteran swimmers along with a newcomer to lead the way for the Fighting Scots at the 2024 NCAC championships. Senior Maddie Becker (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) will enter the meet with a top-15 seed in three different events, sitting sixth in the 100 individual medley (1:01.32) and 13th and 14th in the 100 (1:06.72) and 200 (2:26.37) breaststroke events, respectively. A trio of juniors own top-30 times in the NCAC, highlighted by Ollie Bream (Melbourne, Australia/Firbank Grammar School), who holds the eighth-fastest time in the 200 butterfly (2:06.15). Bream also owns top-20 times in the 200 (2:07.28) and 400 (4:33.40) individual medleys and top-30 times in the 100 fly (59.15) and 200 freestyle (1:56.47). JP Timken (Canton, OH/Hoover) and Hallie Findlan (Jefferson Hills, PA/Thomas Jefferson) will join their classmate in the freestyle events, as Timken owns the league's 10th-fastest time in the 1650 (17:48.03) and the 28th-best 500 (5:18.26), while Findlan owns the 13th-quickest 50 (24.16) and 24th-fastest 100 (53.22). First-year Charlotte Helm (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) will lead the way in the backstroke events, entering the conference championship with a top-25 time in the 200 (2:12.27) and a top-30 time in the 100 (1:01.16). Junior Cady Eakins (Macedon, NY/Palmyra-Macedon) along with rookies Grace Laymon (Mount Vernon, OH/Mount Vernon) and Kaela Redding (Ann Arbor, MI/Community) enter the meet with experience in the diving well. Wooster currently holds the NCAC's fourth-best relay time in all five relay events, including the 200 (1:39.58), 400 (3:37.41) and 800 (8:02.17) free relays and the 200 (1:48.39) and 400 (4:02.22) medley relays.
OBERLIN enters the 2024 NCAC Championship with top times coming from two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and one first-year. Seniors Audrey Weber (George Town, Grand Cayman/Peddie School) and Hannah Hale (Ellicott City, MD/Long Reach) will compete in their final NCAC championship this season. Weber enters the conference meet with top-30 times in the 100 (1:12.32) and 200 (2:38.30) breaststroke events, along with Oberlin's fastest time in the 200 individual medley (2:23.41), while Hale has the team's quickest 200 freestyle (2:01.28). Juniors Elinor Frost (South Haven, MI/South Haven), Rosalie Baron (South Orange, NJ/Columbia) and Lucy Lee (Richmond, VT/Mount Mansfield Union) each hold top-30 times going into the championship. In the butterfly events, Frost currently sits at No. 25 in the 100 (59.10), while Baron is No. 27 in the 200 (2:24.07). Frost also owns the Yeowomen's fastest 50 (24.80) and 100 (54.61) free times, while Lee has the NCAC's 32nd-best time in the 400 IM (5:06.83). A pair of sophomores look to make a splash after recording top times for Oberlin this season. Nyrobi Whitfield (Columbus, OH/Columbus Alternative) leads the way for the second-year swimmers, owning the NCAC's 16th-best time in the 100 IM (1:05.08). In the backstroke events, Whitfield owns the Yeowomen's fastest 100 (1:05.03), while classmate Sophia Nicholson (Livingston, TX/Venice) has the quickest 200 on the team (2:22.35). First-year Gretchen Lotter (Milwaukee, WI/Shorewood) will enter the conference championship with two top-35 freestyle times in the NCAC, owning the 19th-quickest 1650 (18:51.67) and 35th-best 500 (5:26.92). Sophomore Winifred Wood (Brooklyn, NY/Bard High School Early College Queens) and first-year Faye Huffman (Portland, OR/U.S. Grant) will look to score points for Oberlin in the diving well.
OHIO WESLEYAN will rely on a mix of experience with one senior, two juniors, and two first-years entering the conference championship with top times for the Battling Bishops. Senior Siarra Hoover (Frazeysburg, OH/Newark Licking Valley) will be the team's top threat, with the NCAC's 14th-fastest time in 100 individual medley (1:04.10), to go along with the 20th-quickest 200 (2:30.38) and 21st-best 100 (1:08.70) breaststroke times. Hoover also owns OWU's top time in the 200 IM (2:17.52), while juniors Josie Stark (Castalia, OH/Margaretta) and Lily Davis (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) have each posted top-30 marks in the NCAC. Stark owns the 29th-fastest time in the 400 IM (5:03.16), while Davis leads OWU in the backstroke events, holding the 30th-best time in the NCAC in the 200 (2:18.20) and the Battling Bishops quickest 100 (1:04.45). First-year Maria Thibodeaux (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) has recorded the league's 28th-quickest time in the 1650 free (20:00.78) and the NCAC's 31st-best time in the 200 butterfly (2:27.24), while classmate Augustine Lemert (Granville, OH/Granville) holds top times for Ohio Wesleyan in the 100 fly (1:01.25), along with the 50 (25.62), 100 (55.64), 200 (2:02.00) and 500 (5:34.64) freestyle events.
HIRAM will be led by seniors Moraine Jackson (Solon, OH/Solon) and Elena Rinaldi (Cleveland Heights, OH/Cleveland Heights), who each hold top times in four different championship events for the Terriers. Jackson owns Hiram's fastest time in the 100 (59.05) and 200 (2:10:00) freestyle events and the 100 (1:10.30) and 400 (5:37.83) individual medleys, while Rinaldi has posted the team's top time in the 100 (1:05.35) and 200 (2:40.54) butterfly events, the 100 breaststroke (1:33.30) and the 200 IM (2:33.55). The pair have also complimented each other by posting the second-quickest times on the squad in the 100 and 200 IM events, as Rinaldi is second to Jackson in the 100 IM (1:15.84) and Jackson is just behind Rinaldi in the 200 (2:44.10). Junior Natalie Brown (Hudson, OH/Hudson) owns a top-30 time in the conference in the 1650 free (20:17.13), while also owning Hiram's quickest 500 free (5:55.10). First-year Avery Clay (Warren, OH/Champion) will join Jackson and Brown in the freestyle events, as she has the Terriers fastest 50 (26.96) heading into the meet. Sophomore Grace Basham (Hubbard, OH/Hubbard) will join Rinaldi in the breaststroke events, as the second-year owns Hiram's best 200 time (3:34.78). In the backstroke events, first-year Haven Papineau (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) leads the way after collecting Hiram's top-times in both the 100 (1:08.35) and 200 (2:31.33).
WITTENBERG will be led by senior Mackenzie Schuld (Rocky River, OH/Rocky River), who enters the 2024 meet with five of the Tigers' top-times and holds two top-25 NCAC seed times. The veteran posted the NCAC's 23rd-fastest 200 butterfly (2:18.55) and 24th-quickest 400 individual medley (4:51.10), while also holding the 31st-best time in 500 freestyle (5:20.09). Schuld also owns Wittenberg's top time in the 200 backstroke (2:23.26) and the 100 fly (1:04.32). First-year Sophie Paskiet (Toledo, OH/St. Ursula) will enter her first conference championship with top-20 times in the NCAC in the 100 (1:08.37) and 200 (2:27.88) breaststroke events, to go along with the league's 33rd-best time in the 200 IM (2:16.57). In the freestyle events, sophomore Shania Stone (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) own's two top-30 times in the NCAC, the 25th-fastest 100 (53.24) and 29th-best 50 (24.70), while also posting Wittenberg's quickest 200 (2:01.74). Classmate McKenna Clark (Waynesville, OH/Carroll) holds the Tiger's top 100 back (1:05.57), while junior Jenna Hallett (Delta, OH/Delta) has recorded the team's fastest 100 IM (1:12.34) and first-year Bekah Lebold (Mount Vernon, OH/Mount Vernon) will look to score points in the diving well.
MEN'S PREVIEWS
Defending champion KENYON, ranked first in the CSCAA Top-25, heads into the conference meet on the hunt for its first back-to-back title since winning 11 straight crowns during the 1998-2008 seasons. The Owls enter the championships owning 11 of the possible 16 individual top marks as well as four league best relays. Kenyon will lean on a mixed group of underclassmen and upperclassmen to bring home the title at the 2024 NCAC Championships including the 2023 Diver of the Year, senior Israel Zavaleta (Mexico City, Mexico/Universidad del Valle de Mexio), and 2023 Newcomer of the Year, sophomore Djordje Dragojlovic (Begrade, Serbia/Nada Dimic). Zaveleta will return to the boards to defend his titles in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events, while in the freestyle events, Dragojlovic owns the league-best time in the 200 (1:37.09) and will look to make the podium in the event for the first time this year. The sophomore also hopes to improve on his runner-up finish in the 50 as well as defend his title in the 100 from a season ago. In league standings, Dragojlovic ranks second in the 50 (20.23) and 100 (44.01) free, sitting behind teammate junior Aleksa Dobric (Belgrade, Serbia/Sports Gymnasium Belgrade) who owns an impressive 20.15 and 43.99 in those respective events. Dobric will also hope to make the podium in the 100 breaststroke as he enters the meet with the third-quickest finish (55.04) by an NCAC competitor this season. First-year Noel Tumbasz (Budapest, Hungary/ELTE Radnóti Miklós Gyakorló Gimnázium) holds the fourth-best time in the 200 breast (2:01.40). In the butterfly events, senior Marko Krtinic (Bor, Serbia/Gimnazija Patrijarh Pavle) will return to the pool after breaking the NCAC record in the 100 fly at last year's championships with a time of 47.11. The senior is on the hunt for back-to-back titles in the event as he has posted a time of 47.17 to lead the league this winter. Krtinic also holds the conference's best mark this season in the 200 fly, finishing in 1:47.71. Senior Yurii Kosian (Odesa, Ukraine/Odesa School 101), who owns the NCAC's quickest time in the 100 (47.28) and 200 (1:43.59) backstroke events this season, will look to defend his 200 title and improve his third-place finish in the 100 from last season. In the distance events, senior Max Nonnenmacher (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) enters the meet owning the league's top 500 (4:29.10), while freshman Roman Savage (Claremont, CA/Claremont) will represent the Owls in the 1650 (15:39.75) with the second-best conference mark in the event. Senior Noah Hargrove (Charlottesville, VA/Western Albermarle) and sophomore Ethan Manske (Santa Fe, NM/St. Michaels) hope to earn All-NCAC honors in the individual medleys. Hargrove looks to improve on his third-place finish from a season ago in the 200 IM as he enters the meet with a league-best 1:48.67; Manske holds a the second-fastest time in the 400 (3:56.43). Kenyon enters the conference championship with the top times in the 200 (1:19.68) and 400 (2:56.09) free relays, and the 200 (1:27.93) and 400 (3:14.08) medley relays, as well as the second-best time in the 800 free relay (6:41.44).
DENISON enters the conference meet ranked sixth in the nation in the CSCAA Top-25 and will rely on a balanced roster featuring key contributions from both veterans and underclassmen. The Big Red will be anchored by a junior trio consisting of Elijah Venos (Pleasant Ridge, MI/Brother Rice), Lucas Conrads (Naperville, IL/Waubonsie Valley), and Patrick Daly (New Albany, OH/New Albany), who combined, own the league's top seed in five of the 14 individual swimming events. Venos is prepared to defend his titles the 100 (54:32) and 200 (1:59.14) breaststroke with the NCAC's fastest times this season. Conrads, who looks to claim his second consecutive title in the 1650 freestyle, has recorded the NCAC's quickest time in the event this season (15:31.56). The Naperville, Illinois, native also hopes to improve on last year's runner-up finish in the 400 individual medley as he owns the best time in the conference so far this year with a mark of 3:55.53. Daly, who owns the Big Red's final top NCAC time in the 100 IM (50.63), also enters the meet with the second-fastest 200 IM (1:49.07). In the freestyle events, senior Richie Stewert (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley North) ranks seventh in the 50 (20.90) and Daly owns a sixth-best time in the 100 (45.74), while junior Tyler Distenfeld (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) looks to make an appearance on podium for the second year in the 200 after posting the third-best seed time (1:39.60) in the event this year. In addition, junior Christian McIntire (Nashville, TN/Ravenwood) enters the meet with the second-best 500 free (4:29.27) in the league. Junior Shea Card (Basalt, CO/Basalt) and freshman Devin Testin (Mequon, WI/Homestead) will lead the Big Red in the backstroke events with top-5 times. Card owns the NCAC's fourth-fastest 100 (49.24) while Testin has the No. 2 seed time in the 200 (1:49.01). In the butterfly events, junior Max Soja (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central), and freshman Liam Nelson (Pakkret, Thailand/International School Bangkok) look to score big points for Denison as they rank second and fourth in the 200 (1:47.74) and 100 (49.96), respectively. The Big Red currently own the fastest time in the 800 free relay (6:40.85) as well as the second-fastest relay times in the 200 (1:22.17), and 400 (3:02.48) free relays, and the 200 (1:30.16) and 400 (3:20.34) medley relays.
WOOSTER looks to claim a second-consecutive top-three finish at the conference championships with a relatively young roster, consisting of only four seniors. Senior Josh Pearson (Cincinnati, OH/Indian Hill) hopes to jumpstart the Fighting Scots performance by scoring big points in the 100 individual medley (52.37), 200 butterfly (1:51.18), and 400 IM (4:04.43) as he ranks third, sixth, and seventh in the conference, respectively. In the freestyle events, sophomore Callum Glover (Houston, TX/Stratford) owns Wooster's fastest times and top-30 conference marks in the 50 (21.16), 100 (21.16), and 200 (1:44.18), while classmate Will Laubacher (Wexford, PA/Pine Richland) and freshman Philipp Drappatz (Pittsburg, PA/Fox Chapel Area) also rank in the top-35 in the 500 (4:49.00) and 1650 (17:26.46), respectively. Heading into the championships, junior Max Likins (St. Clair, MI/St. Clair) owns top-25 marks in the 100 backstroke (53.56) and 200 back (1:57.30), ranking 14th and 22nd against conference foes, while junior Tucker Andrewjeski (Henderson, NV/Green Valley) and sophomore Boston Sullivan (North Canton, OH/Hoover) will represent the Scots in the breaststroke, having both produced top-20 marks. Sullivan claims the 18th-quickest 100 breast (58.18) and Andrewjeski owns the 13th-best 200 breast (2:06.49) to go along with his time of 1:56.79 in the 200 IM. Wooster enters the NCAC Championships with a 400 free relay that recorded a time of 3:09.57 earlier this season, third quickest in the NCAC.
WABASH heads into the NCAC conference meet in hopes of another top-four finish as the Little Giants have posted top-35 times in all of the individual events. Freshman duo Quinn Sweeney (Carmel, IN/Guerin Catholic) and Nick Plumb (Carmel, IN/Carmel) highlight the Little Giants as they own nine of Wabash's top times and hope to earn big points in their respective events. Sweeney owns the league's fifth-fastest time in the 100 individual medley (52.85), 13th-best in the 200 butterfly (1:55.72), and the 18th-quickest finishes in the 200 (1:42.05) and 500 (4:39.72) freestyles. Plumb holds the conference's sixth-best 200 backstroke (1:51.89), 10th-quickest 100 back (51.77), 18th-best 400 IM (4:18.16), 24th-best 100 fly (52.54) and 26th-fastest 200 IM (1:58.61). In the breaststroke, junior Ethan Johns (Carmel, IN/Carmel) looks to make an impact for the Little Giants as he claims the 20th- and 23rd-best times in the conference with times of 59.16 and 2:11.35 in the 100 and 200, respectively. Junior Ethan Johns (Carmel, IN/Carmel) and sophomore Xander Straw (Mooresville, IN/Plainfield) will show their skills in the freestyle events as Johns ties for ninth in league standings in the 100 (46.16) and posted the 23rd-ranked mark in the 50 (21.60), while Straw's efforts are ranked 17th in the 1650 (16:47.13). On the diving board, senior Bear Morales (Mission, TX/McAllen IDEA College Prep) and first-year Christopher Wiatr (Bartlett, IL/Bartlett?) look to compete in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events. Wabash enters the meet with the NCAC's third-fastest 800 free relay (6:58.12) as well as the fourth-fastest relay times in the 200 free (1:25.78), and 200 (1:34.94), and 400 (3:27.16) medley relays.
A well-balanced squad will lead DEPAUW into the 2024 NCAC Championships. Junior James Shorney (River Forest, IL/Oak Park & River Forest) takes point for the Tigers with the program's best times in three events including the 50 freestyle (21.27), 100 free (45.83), and 100 butterfly (50.76). He boasts top-25 marks in all of his events, highlighted by the league's eighth-best mark in the 100 fly. Junior Brock Kinnamon (Plainfield, IN/Plainfield and freshmen Zach Posinski (Washington, MO/St. Francis Porgia) and Jeremey Stutzman (Goshen, IN/Goshen) will lead the Tigers in their respective events as each holds the team's best mark in two events. Kinnamon owns the 17th-best in the 200 fly (1:57.97) and a top-35 time in the 200 free (1:44.86), while Posinksi owns the conference's 25th-best mark in the 200 breast (2:14.52) and 33rd-quickest time in 200 IM (2:00.58). In the backstroke, Stutzman will look to score with top-25 conference marks in the 100 (53.58) and 200 (1:59.00). Also registering top-30 seeds are senior Braden Mallery (Craigville, IN/Norwell) in the 1650 free (17.02.38), sophomore Eli VanHaaren (Cicero, IN/Hamilton Heights) in the 100 IM (56.57), freshman Aaron Graff (Aliso Viejo, CA/Aliso Niguel) in the 400 IM (4:19.32), and freshman Tyler Farkas (Cleveland, OH/University School) in the 500 free (4:46.87). DePauw senior Robbie Sheffield (Indianapolis, IN/Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory) registered the program's best time this year in the 100 breast (1:01.53). In the relays, the Tigers enter the meet with the NCAC's fourth-fastest 400 free with a time of 3:10.07.
OBERLIN juniors Erik Fendorf (Stanford, CA/Henry M. Gunn), Miles Felt (Wilton Manors, FL/Fort Lauderdale), and Isaac Viviano (Plainwell, MI/Plainwell) will guide the young Yeomen roster at the conference meet as they combine for a total of eight top-15 times in the league this season. Fendorf looks to score big points for Oberlin as he ranks second in the 100 butterfly (49.46), sixth in the 50 freestyle (20.29), and seventh in the 100 free (45.99), while Felt hopes add to the scoreboard as he owns a NCAC eighth seed 200 fly mark (1:53.19), a ninth-best time in the 100 back (51.76), and a top-12 time in the 100 individual medley (53.80), In the breaststroke events, Viviano has produced the 12th-best 100 (54.80) and the 14th-quickest 200 (2:06.49). Sophomore Miguel Siwady (San Pedro Sula, Honduras/Escuela Internacional Sampedrana) looks to make an impact in the freestyle events, with the squad's top time in the 200 free (1:45.04) and sitting 19th in the conference in the 500 free (4:39.82). Additionally, Siwady holds a top-15 time in the 400 IM (4:12.77), while freshman James Moll (Lititza, PA/Warwick) claims 19th in the 200 IM with a time of 1:55.80. Moll and fellow first-year Chahine Said (Temara, OH/Benmbarek) both enter the conference championship meet ranking seventh in their respective events. Said swam a 15:57.26 in the 1650 free this season, while Moll holds onto a 1:52.06 200 back time. Classmate Sebastian Lagasse (Oberlin, OH/Lake Ridge Academy) will also make his conference debut in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. Oberlin enters the 2024 meet with the third-best 200 free relay (1:32.01), and 200 (1:24.89) and 400 (6:58.94) medley relays, as well as the fourth-best 800 (6:58.94) free relay.
OHIO WESLEYAN brings a youthful Battling Bishop squad to the 2024 conference meet as five sophomores and a freshman hold the program's top times this season. Freshman Ian Sander (Pemberville, OH/Eastwood) will show his strengths in numerous events over the course of the meet as he owns an NCAC top-35 time in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.23), 200 breast (2:15.61), and 400 individual medley (4:27.07), as well as OWU's fastest time this season in the 200 IM ( 2:03.77). Heading into the conference meet, sophomore Graham Mayberry (Granville, OH/Granville) looks to make an impact for the Battling Bishops as he holds a top-20 NCAC seed time in the 100 IM (55.93) and the 34th-fastest 100 backstroke (55.85) in the conference. Mayberry has also posted top times for the Bishops in the 100 freestyle (48.49) and 200 back (2:07.15) while classmate Evan Lucas (Cincinnati, OH/Loveland) owns one top-25 conference time in the 100 butterfly (52.40) and leads OWU in the 200 free (1:48.58) and 200 fly (2:04.52). Additionally, sophomore Chase Ellis (Hilliard, OH/Darby) will help propel the Bishops as he sits in first for OWU in the 50 free (22.77) and 500 free (5:09.15) while sophomore Chevy Kosek (Brecksville, OH/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) holds the program's top mark this season in the 1650 free (19:21.32). Sophomore Matt Lewis (Pataskala, OH/Watkins Memorial) will look to represent Ohio Wesleyan on the 1-meter board.
HIRAM heads into the NCAC Championships owning five top-35 times, three of which are owned by sophomore Owen Pastorious (Pittsburgh, PA/North Hills). Pastorious holds the leagues' 32nd-best times in the 1650 freestyle (18:37.29) and 200 butterfly (2:07.18) as well as the 34th-top time in the 400 individual medley (4:40.52). The sophomore also looks to compete in the 500 free after boasting the Terriers' top finish with a time of 5:02.50. Junior Dayne Sauter (Bakersfield, CA/Bakersfield) owns the league's 29th-best finish in the 100 free (27.35) as well as leading the Terriers in the 50 free (21.94) and 200 free (1:49.01). Sophomore Jon Hybil (Aurora, OH/Aurora) owns Hiram's quickest times in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.87) and also produced a top-35 time in the conference in the 200 breast (2:19.98). In the 100 and 200 IMs, freshman Adam Johnson (Grosse Pointe, MI/Grosse Pointe South) tops the team's list with times of 59.77 and 2:09.51, respectively. Seniors Gabe Farthing (Alexandria, OH/Northridge) and Nathan Ratynski (Flint, MI/Carmen-Ainsworth) as well as junior Adam Ellis (Columbus, OH/Grandview Heights) will look to compete at the championships as they recorded team-best times in their respective events. Farthing tops the team in the 100 fly (58.03) while Ratynski leads the Terriers in the 100 back (59.36), and Ellis recorded a time of 2:12.76 in the 200 back.
WITTENBERG senior Zach Parkman (Lancaster, OH/Fisher Catholic) owns two top-30 seed times to lead the Tigers into competition at the NCAC Championships. Heading into next week, Parkman ranks 16th in the league in the 200 butterfly (1:57.64) and 27th in the 100 fly (52.80). The senior will help guide the otherwise young roster as he also owns the Tigers' top time in the 500 freestyle (4:55.88), 100 backstroke (57.51), and 200 individual medley (2:03.17), while sophomore Mason Steen (Leroy, OH/Riverside) owns the team's fastest 50 free (22.72), 100 free (48.58), 200 free (1:52.72), and 200 breaststroke (2:27.22) while also owning the leagues' 29th-fastest 100 breast (1:00.42). First-year Drew Lazar (Ocala, FL/West Port) enters the NCAC Championships with the fastest 1650 free (20:55.13) for the Tigers this season while sophomore Jon Wasky (Kettering,OH/Fairmont) will look to compete in the 200 back with a team-best time of 2:10.95.