Get ready for some thrilling swimming action as we dive into the third night of the 2026 NCAC Championships! The competition is heating up, and records are falling like never before.
The Night of Record-Breaking Performances
In a highly anticipated showdown, the Denison men and Kenyon women emerged victorious, extending their leads in the NCAC Championships. But here's where it gets controversial: three meet records were shattered on this historic night, with two of them belonging to Denison and one to Kenyon.
Let's dive into the details and uncover the key moments that made this night so extraordinary.
Men's Recap: Denison Dominance
Denison's men put on an impressive display, claiming two NCAC meet records. Jack Hill, a standout swimmer, led the way by breaking the 200 free record with an incredible time of 1:35.66. Hill's performance not only secured the record but also established him as the top swimmer in Division III this season. His teammate, Nick Hensel, followed closely, touching the wall in 1:37.30.
But the excitement didn't stop there. Denison's 200 free relay team, featuring Hill, Hensel, Cam Blevins-Mohr, and Samuel Hibbert, swam to another meet record. Hill's opening split of 19.90 set the tone, and Hensel's lightning-fast 19.13 split was the fastest in the field. The team touched the wall in a blazing 1:18.42, breaking the previous record of 1:18.77 set by Kenyon's relay team in 2012.
Blevins-Mohr continued the momentum, claiming his own individual win in the 100 fly with a time of 47.57, a personal best for the freshman. Ben Bevill and Devin Testin completed a 1-2 finish for Denison in the 100 back, with Bevill touching first in 48.42.
Kenyon's Breaststroke Brilliance
The Kenyon men, led by Ethan Manske, put up a strong fight. Manske's breaststroke split in the 400 IM was nothing short of spectacular, allowing him to pass Denison's Luke Swiggett and secure the win in 3:52.99. Swiggett finished closely behind in 3:54.94.
Another win for Kenyon came from junior Noel Tumbasz, who dominated the 100 breast with a time of 54.42, half a second ahead of his teammate Leo Karnitz.
Scores After Day 3
- Denison University - 1352.5
- Kenyon College - 1193.5
- John Carroll University - 805.5
- DePauw University - 716
- Wabash College - 655
- College of Wooster - 511.5
- Oberlin College - 471
- Ohio Wesleyan University - 276
- Wittenberg University - 112
Women's Recap: Kenyon's Record-Breaking Performance
The Kenyon women, led by Gwen Eisenbeis, stole the show on night three. Eisenbeis swam to a new NCAC meet record in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall in 54.36. This remarkable performance broke the previous record of 54.71 set by Olivia Smith of Kenyon in 2022. Eisenbeis, who entered the meet with a lifetime best of 54.62, now ranks as the top swimmer in the NCAA this season. Her achievement is even more impressive considering her fifth-place finish in the 100 back at the 2025 D3 NCAA Championships.
Molly Haag continued Kenyon's winning streak, claiming another victory after her win in the 500 free the previous night. Haag dominated the 200 free, touching the wall in 1:49.68, just over a second ahead of her teammate, Nora Lee Brown.
Kelsey Van Eldik added to Kenyon's success, touching first in the 100 breast with a time of 1:01.32. Van Eldik has been as fast as 1:00.76 this season, a time that leads the NCAA by a significant margin.
Denison's Fightback
Despite Kenyon's impressive performance, Denison had a big night of their own. The highlight of the evening for Denison was the women's 200 free relay, where Olivia Morse, Phoebe Ferguson, Hailey Kaminski, and Caroline Ramirez touched the wall in a close 1:32.43, just 0.07 ahead of Kenyon's 1:32.50.
Ferguson's earlier performance in the 100 fly, where she posted a 55.40 for second place, was also notable. She finished just 0.02 behind her teammate, Jassy Park, who won the event in 55.38.
Denison's senior, Emily Harris, claimed the other win for her team, dominating the 400 IM in 4:22.77. Harris has been as fast as 4:20.06 this season, a time that currently leads Division III.
Scores After Day 3
- Denison University - 1352.5
- Kenyon College - 1193.5
- John Carroll University - 805.5
- DePauw University - 716
- Wabash College - 655
- College of Wooster - 511.5
- Oberlin College - 471
- Ohio Wesleyan University - 276
- Wittenberg University - 112
As the competition intensifies, the question remains: Will Denison be able to catch up to Kenyon, or will the latter maintain their lead? The NCAC Championships are shaping up to be an exciting battle, and we can't wait to see how it unfolds!
What do you think? Who do you think will emerge as the ultimate champion? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
