Denison Leads Men; Big Red, Owls Tied on Women’s Side After Night One

GRANVILLE, OH -- Denison leads the way in the men's standings, while the Big Red and Kenyon Owls are tied atop the women's standings after the first night of competition in the 2026 NCAC Swimming & Diving Championships at the Trumbull Aquatics Center on the campus of Denison University. The Big Red men accumulated 234 total points after capturing first in all three opening events, the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays and the three-meter diving competition. The Big Red and Owl women sit in first with 132 points apiece thanks to top-two finishes in the 200 medley and 800 free relays.
 
Kenyon is second overall in the men's standings after night one with 183 points, followed by
Wabash (178), DePauw (160), Oberlin (133), John Carroll (120), Wooster (112), Ohio Wesleyan (100) and Wittenberg (48). On the women's side, DePauw is in third with 120 points, followed by Wooster (112), Wittenberg (110), Oberlin (106), Ohio Wesleyan (104) and John Carroll (58).
 
The 2026 meet opened with the Denison men earning their second-consecutive 200 medley relay title thanks to first-year Ben Bevill (Chattanooga, TN/McCallie School), junior Liam Nelson (Pakkret, Thailand/International School Bangkok), first-year Sam Hibbert (Toronto, Canada/Crestwood Prep) and sophomore Nick Hensel (Houston, TX/St. Johns) touching the wall in a new NCAC record and NCAA "B" cut time of 1:26.68. The Kenyon women brought the 200 medley relay title back to Gambier, collecting an NCAA "B" cut standard as senior Gwen Eisenbeis (Okemos, MI/Williamston), sophomore Kelsey Van Eldik (Newcastle, Australia/Merewether), first-year Nora Kortuem (Northfield, MN/Northfield) and junior Kate Bogan (Irmo, SC/Dutch Fork) recorded a 1:40.29 finish. 
 
In the diving well on Wednesday night, Denison senior Nick Fogle (Corcoran, MN/Orono), the 2025 NCAC Diver of the Year, collected the men’s three-meter crown after scoring 516.20 points.
 
To end night one, the Denison men claimed their second-straight 800 free title. The Big Red quartet of junior Jack Hill (Leighton Buzzard, U.K./Cedars Upper), Hensel and juniors Luke Swiggett (Berkeley, CA/Berkeley) and Devin Testin (Mequon, WI/Homestead) reset the NCAC record and surpassed the NCAA "B" cut standard with a winning time of 6:27.16. As the lead-off swimmer on the 800 free relay, Hill broke the NCAC 200 free record with a time of 1:36.10. The women's final relay of the night was also captured by Denison, as the Big Red claimed their fourth-straight 800 free title. The Denison team of senior Emily Harris (Nashville, TN/Ensworth), junior Ollie Morse (Granville, OH/Columbus School for Girls), first-year Reilly O'Hara (Winnetka, IL/Loyola Academy) and senior Quinn Brown (Portland, OR/Grant) touched the wall first in an NCAA "B" cut standard with a winning time of 7:19.14.
 
The 2026 NCAC Swimming & Diving Championships continue through Saturday evening. Preliminary events start at 9:30 a.m., while finals begin at 6:00 p.m.
 

Related Stories

Related Videos

Now Playing: