The 2026 NCAC Championships witnessed a thrilling third day, with three meet records shattered, two by Denison and one by Kenyon. The Denison men's team continued their dominant performance, breaking two records, while the Kenyon women's team further extended their lead. But here's where it gets controversial... Let's dive into the details of this exciting swimming competition.
Men's Recap:
Denison's Jack Hill made history, breaking the 200-free record with a stunning 1:35.66. This achievement is even more remarkable considering he holds the top time in Division III this season, having swum a 1:35.18 back in December. His teammate, Nick Hensel, claimed second place with a time of 1:37.30. Hill's excellence didn't end there; he also led the 200-free relay team that broke another meet record. The relay team, consisting of Hill, Hensel, Cam Blevins-Mohr, and Samuel Hibbert, touched the wall in 1:18.42, surpassing the previous record set by Kenyon in 2012.
Blevins-Mohr had his own moment of glory, winning the 100 fly in a personal-best 47.57. This performance builds upon his previous lifetime best of 48.21. In the 100 back, Denison's Ben Bevill and Devin Testin finished in a 1-2 sweep, with Bevill touching first in 48.42 and Testin close behind in 49.36.
The Kenyon men's team, led by Ethan Manske, made a strong showing. Manske's impressive breaststroke split in the 400 IM allowed him to overtake Denison's Luke Swiggett for the win, touching in 3:52.99 compared to Swiggett's 3:54.94. Additionally, junior Noel Tumbasz claimed victory in the 100 breast, touching in 54.42, half a second ahead of his teammate, Leo Karnitz.
Women's Recap:
The Kenyon women's team continued their stellar performance, with Gwen Eisenbeis breaking the 100 back record in a time of 54.36, surpassing the previous record held by her teammate, Olivia Smith. Eisenbeis, who entered the day with a lifetime best of 54.62, now takes the top spot in the NCAA this season. Her performance in the 100 back at the 2025 D3 NCAA Championships, where she finished 5th, was a notable achievement.
Molly Haag, another Kenyon standout, added to her team's success by winning the 200 free in 1:49.68, just over a second ahead of Nora Lee Brown. Haag's victory builds upon her previous win in the 500 free the night before. Kelsey Van Eldik secured the 100 breast title for Kenyon with a time of 1:01.32, a performance that leads the NCAA by over a second this season.
Despite Kenyon's strong showing, Denison had a remarkable night as well. The women's 200-free relay team, consisting of Olivia Morse, Phoebe Ferguson, Hailey Kaminski, and Caroline Ramirez, touched the wall in 1:32.43, just 0.07 seconds ahead of Kenyon. Ferguson also claimed second place in the 100 fly with a time of 55.40, finishing just 0.02 seconds behind Jassy Park, who won the event.
Denison's senior Emily Harris won the 400 IM in a time of 4:22.77, matching her season-best time of 4:20.06, which currently leads Division III.
Scores Through Day 3:
1. Denison University - 1352.5
2. Kenyon College - 1193.5
3. John Carroll University - 805.5
4. DePauw University - 716
5. Wabash College - 655
6. College of Wooster - 511.5
7. Oberlin College - 471
8. Ohio Wesleyan University - 276
9. Wittenberg University - 112
As the NCAC Championships continue, the competition is heating up, and the records are falling. Who will emerge as the ultimate champion? That's the question on everyone's mind. And this is the part most people miss... The battle for the top spot is far from over, and the remaining events promise even more excitement and drama. So, who will rise to the challenge and claim the championship title? The swimming world awaits with bated breath, and the comments section is open for your thoughts and predictions!
