Denison Men Claim NCAC Swimming & Diving Title

GRANVILLE, OH - The Denison men captured their 14th North Coast Athletic Conference crown as competition wrapped up on Saturday night at the 2025 NCAC Swimming & Diving Championships at the Trumbull Aquatics Center on the campus of Denison University.
 
The Big Red, who captured the team title with 2061.5 points, logged 40 All-NCAC finishes in the 21 events contested and collected 15 NCAC titles over the four-day meet. The Kenyon men finished second overall with 1,642 points after winning six events and posting 15 All-NCAC performances, while Wabash checked in at third with 1,339.5 points. Oberlin finished fourth overall (1,070 points), followed by Wooster (1,016), DePauw (967.5), Ohio Wesleyan (413), Hiram (412.5) and Wittenberg (314).
 
Kenyon junior Djordje Dragojlovic (Belgrade, Serbia/Nada Dimic), the 2023 Newcomer of the Year, was named the 2025 NCAC Men's Swimmer of the Year after winning three individual event titles and collecting four runner-up finishes in the relays. Dragojlovic and his teammates collected silver in the 200 free (1:20.48), 400 free (2:56.29), 200 medley (1:27.68) and 400 medley (3:13.65) relays. The junior captured his third-straight 100 free championship crown with the meet's first NCAA "A" cut time of 43.14 to reset the NCAC record that he broke a season ago. He also collected the 50 free title in an NCAA "B" cut time (19.99) and his second-consecutive 100 back title in an NCAC record and NCAA "B" time  standard (47.33).
 
In the diving well, Denison junior Nick Fogel (Corcoran, MN/Providence Academy) claimed 2025 NCAC Men's Diver of the Year honors after sweeping both boards at the conference meet. Fogel posted regional qualifying scores in both the one-meter (526.55) and the three-meter (515.30) boards.
 
In addition, Denison first-year George Goins (Charlotte, NC/McCallie School (TN)) earned the 2025 NCAC Men's Newcomer of the Year honors after earning three All-NCAC certificates. Goins captured two silver medals thanks to touching the wall in NCAA "B" cut times in the 200 free (1:39.23) and the 1650 free (15:43.18). The rookie also posted a third-place finish in the 500 free in an NCAA "B" cut time (4:28.46). Goins' top-three finishes totaled 92 team points for the Big Red.
 
Finally, Denison swept the NCAC Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year and Men's Diving Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Head coach Gregg Parini, in his 38th year with the Big Red, along with associate head coach Kellen Beckwith and assistant coach Kristen Skroski have earned the program their eighth Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year honor. The Big Red were led to a first-place finish after accumulating 2061.5 points, logging 40 All-NCAC finishes in the 21 events contested, collecting 15 NCAC titles and breaking seven NCAC records over the four-day meet. Big Red head diving coach Russ Bertram claimed his fifth overall Men's Diving Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2025 as Denison swept places 1-3 in the one- and three-meter competition, with all three divers posting regional qualifying scores. Bertram also earned his third-consecutive and seventh overall women's diving coach honor at this year's meet.
 
In other action Saturday night, Denison senior Lucas Conrads (Naperville, IL/Waubonsie Valley) won his third-consecutive 1650 free title with an NCAA "B" cut time of 15:32.51. Denison senior Patrick Daly (New Albany, OH/New Albany) captured the 100 IM in record-setting fashion, touching the wall in an NCAC-record time of 49.57 for his second-consecutive conference crown in the event. Kenyon first-year Charlie Green (Mount Pleasant, SC/Wando) took gold in the 200 backstroke in an NCAA "B" cut time of 1:46.21, earning the Owls their fourth-straight title in the event. Denison senior Elijah Venos (Pleasant Ridge, MI/Brother Rice) completed the sweep in the breaststroke events, earning the 200 title in an NCAC record and NCAA "B" cut time of 1:56.67. Denison sophomore Max Lough (Upland, CA/Damien) outpaced the field in the 200 butterfly in an NCAA "B" cut time of 1:47.40.

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