2023 NCAA Division II Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2023 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships

• Dates: Wednesday, March 7 – Saturday, March 11, 2023
• Location: Indiana University Natatorium, Indianapolis, IN
• Times: Prelims 10:00 AM / Finals 6:00 PM
• Defending Champs: Queens women (7x) & Queens men (7x)
• Live Results
• Women’s Psych Sheet (PDF)
• Men’s Psych Sheet (PDF)
• Women’s Live Stream
• Men’s Live Stream
• Day 1 Results (PDF)
• Day 2 Results (PDF)
• Day 3 Finals Heat Sheet

NSU and Indy had big mornings in the women’s and men’s meets, respectively, and are expected to increase their leads over the competition tonight. The Sharks have the top two seeds in the women’s 400 IM, May Lowy and Savanna Best, and the top seed in the 200 free, Emily Trieschmann.

The women’s 100 fly final is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated events, with D2 record-holder Ann Carozza of West Chester, defending champion Luna Mertins of Lynn, and Carson-Newman’s Manon Compagner all vying for the title.

Gregg Lichinsky of McKendree leads a very tight field in the men’s 100 fly final, with the top seven qualifiers all coming in under 47 seconds. Jarryd Baxter of Nova S’eastern tops the qualifiers in the 400 IM, but he will face challenges from distance specialists Cedric Buessing of Indy and Tampa’s Hayden Curley. The 200 free is anyone’s game, with the top five qualifiers – led by Wingate’s Marcel Snitko – all under 1:36. Colorado Mesa’s Isaiah Cheeks has been the most dominant diver in the post- Ammar Hassan era, and he leads the qualifiers for the 3-meter final, the last individual event of the evening.

We’ll wrap up with timed finals of the 400 medley relay.

Top 10 Women’s Teams After Day 2

1. Nova S’Eastern 182
2. Indy 144
3. Drury 97
4. Colorado Mesa 85
5. Lynn 77
6. (TIE) West Chester / Wayne State 75
7. –
8. Wingate 66
9. West Florida 50
10. McKendree 48

Top 10 Men’s Teams After Day 2

1. Indy 121.5
2. McKendree 105.5
3. Tampa 103
4. Drury 97
5. Colorado Mesa 76.5
6. Wingate 72
7. Grand Valley 66
8. Florida Southern 65.5
9. Findlay 65
10. Oklahoma Christian 61

Women’s 100 Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 52.06 – Ann Carozza, West Chester (2022)
• Meet Record: 52.06 – Ann Carozza, West Chester (2022)

Podium:

1. Manon Compagner, Carson-Newman – 52.45
2. Ann Carozza, West Chester – 52.62
3. Luna Mertins, Lynn – 53.54
4. Stefanie Markwardt, West Florida – 53.89
5. Paige Mikesell, IUP – 54.03
6. Alysa Wager, Grand Valley – 54.31
7. Isabelle Sering, Saint Leo – 54.67
8. Mikayla Kloth, Delta State – 55.84

Carson-Newman senior Manon Compagner, who placed 15th a year ago, claimed the 2023 national title in the 100 fly with 52.45. Compagner was the first to turn at the 25 wall and she remained in front of the field for the next three 25s. She led defending champion Luna Mertins of Lynn by three-tenths at the 50 with 24.46, and was able to hold off a fast-charging Ann Carozza of West Chester on the second half.

Carozza split 27.7 on the back half to get by Mertins for second place, stopping the clock at 52.62. Mertins went 53.54, just beating Stefanie Markwardt of West Florida (53.89).

Men’s 100 Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 44.32 – Marius Kusch, Queens (2019)
• Meet Record: 44.32 – Marius Kusch, Queens (2019)

Podium:

1. Gregg Lichinsky, McKendree – 45.82
2. Steven Aimable, Nova S’eastern – 46.11
3. Jackson Lustig, McKendree – 46.17
4. Tim Stollings, Findlay – 46.22
5. Camilo Marrugo-Montano, Findlay – 46.27
6. Dominik Karacic, Drury – 46.70
7. Jase Pinckney, Henderson State – 46.95
8. Kael Yorke, Indy – 47.30

After a pair of bronze medals in 2021 and 2022, Gregg Lichinsky of McKendree earned his place atop the podium with a 45.82 win in the 100 fly.

Lichinsky and Tim Stollings of Findlay tied at the 50 wall, both turning in 21.13, while Camilo Marrugo-Montano was just .15 back in third place.

The second half was all Lichinsky, as he came home in 24.69 to seal the win.

The two fastest back halves belonged to Nova S’eastern’s Steven Aimable (24.44) and McKendree’s Jackson Lustig (24.59), who passed Stollings and Marrugo-Montano to finish second and third, respectively, with 46.11 and 46.17.

Women’s 400 Individual Medley – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 4:08.56 – Patri Castro Ortega, Queens (NC) (2016)
• Meet Record: 4:08.56 – Patri Castro Ortega, Queens (NC) (2016)

Podium:

1. May Lowy, Nova S’eastern – 4:13.80
2. Aurora Duncan, Drury – 4:15.43
3. Savanna Best, Nova S’eastern – 4:17.07
4. Lily Borgenheimer, Colorado Mesa – 4:19.48
5. Andrea Gomez Espinosa, Indy – 4:20.64
6. Sophia Bains, Colorado Mesa – 4:20.83
7. Katie O’Connell, Grand Valley – 4:21.95

*Kaitlyn McCoy of Indy was DQd for a false start.

It was a wire-to-wire win for May Lowy of Nova S’eastern, who led from start to finish and clocked in at 4:13.80. Last year, as a freshman, she finished third with 4:18.50. This year she split 57.1 / 1:04.0 / 1:12.3 / 1:00.2 to register a 4.7-second improvement in a year.

Aurora Duncan of Drury moved into second place on the backstroke, going 1:04.2 to pass Savanna Best. Best closed the gap on the breaststroke but couldn’t quite catch Duncan.

Best’s teammate Lowy was two bodies ahead of the field headed into the freestyle, while the battle for second place raged behind her. After Lowy stopped the clock at 4:13.80, Duncan came into the wall with 4:15.43, while Best touched third in 4:17.07.

Men’s 400 Individual Medley – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 3:42.49 – Collyn Gagne, Simon Fraser (2022)
• Meet Record: 3:42.49 – Collyn Gagne, Simon Fraser (2022)

Podium:

1. Santiago Corredor, Tampa – 3:45.30
2. Cedric Buessing, Indy – 3:45.41
3. Benjamin Sampson, Colorado Mesa – 3:45.98
4. Joao Nogueira, Drury – 3:47.66
5. Hayden Curley, Tampa – 3:48.46
6. Jarryd Baxter, Nova S’eastern – 3:48.64
7. Keegan Hawkins, Grand Valley – 3:51.61
8. Andrew Rodriguez, Drury – 3:53.09

The outside lanes led the middle for most of the final. Keegan Hawkins of Grand Valley and Andrew Rodriguez of Drury paced the field on the butterfly leg from lanes 8 and 7, while Tampa’s Santiago Corredor in lane 1 and Colorado Mesa’s Benjamin Sampson in lane 2 moved to the front on the backstroke.

Sampson took over the lead after the first 50 of breaststroke, before Indy’s Cedric Buessing displaced him at the 300 wall.

It was a mad dash for the finish but Corredor moved back in front again after the first 50 of freestyle. He and Buessing sprinted in an even line to the finish, with Corredor getting the tough, 3:45.30 to 3:45.41. Last night’s 200 IM champion, Sampson, came in third (3:45.98).

Women’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 1:44.44 – Patri Castro Ortega, Queens (2016)
• Meet Record: 1:45.27 – Patri Castro Ortega, Queens (2015)

Podium:

1. Emilia Ronningdal, Nova S’eastern – 1:47.11
2. Mike Heideyer, Indy – 1:47.51
3. Emily Trieschmann, Nova S’eastern – 1:47.88
4. Kiara Pozvai, Henderson State – 1:48.70
5. Josephine Bushell, Drury – 1:48.80
6. Paige Mikesell, IUP – 1:49.32
7. Ellie Walker, Drury – 1:49.50
8. Manon Compagner, Carson-Newman – 1:50.41

Nova S’eastern freshman Emilia Ronningdal won her second event in as many days, clocking a 1:47.11 out of lane 6 to beat teammate, top-seeded Emily Trieschmann by seven-tenths.

Indy freshman Mika Heideyer took off from lane 1 and set the pace from the outset, flipping first at the 50 wall in 25.03. Carson-Newman’s Compagner was second, followed by Kirar Pozvai of Henderson State and Ronningdal.

Heideyer still led at the 100 but now Ronningdal had moved to second place. She then took over the lead, and moved further in front of the field with each subsequent 25. Heideyer maintained her position and successfully held off Trieschmann to earn the silver medal with 1:47.51.

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 1:32.46 – Dion Dreesens, Queens (2016)
• Meet Record: 1:32.46 – Dion Dreesens, Queens (2016)

Podium:

1. Thomas Flower, Nova S’eastern – 1:34.71
2. Matthew Bosch, Grand Valley – 1:34.87
3. Alireza Yavari, McKendree – 1:35.14
4. Victor Rosado, Oklahoma Christian – 1:35.RE
5. Marcel Snitko, Wingate – 1:36.04
6. Santiago Aguilera, Tampa – 1:36.17
7. Roger Miret Sala, Grand Valley – 1:36.50
8. Alejandro Robles Ruiz, Saginaw Valley – 1:36.87

Nova S’eastern’s Thomas Flower, who had come into the meet with the top seed time, led the field from lane 2 from the opening bell. He was followed by McKendree’s Alireza Yavari and Tampa’s Santiago Aguilera at the 100, and by Yavari and Oklahoma Christian’s Victor Rosado at the 150.

Flower split 25.3 on the final 50 to just barely hold off Grand Valley’s Matthew Bosch. Bosch, in sixth place at the 150 wall, flew home with a 23.97 final 50 to take second place. He came within .16 of earning the crown, but finished up with 1:34.87, an improvement of seven-tenths from his seed time.

Flower hung on to get the win in 1:34.71, while Yavari kept Rosado at bay to claim the bronze with 1:35.14.

Men’s 3-Meter Diving – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 624.80 – Ammar Hassan, Colorado Mesa (2018)
• Meet Record: 624.80 – Ammar Hassan, Colorado Mesa (2018)

Podium:

1. Julio Osuna Kelly, Indy – 579.50
2. Jason Lenzo, Indy – 548.00
3. Isaiah Cheeks, Colorado Mesa – 527.10
4. Zach Schering, Clarion – 521.55
5. Cole Earl, Drury – 520.00
6. Cade Hammond, Indy – 499.80
7. Jack Beattie, Clarion – 463.30
8. Dawson Wilson, Colorado Mesa – 428.10

Diving in front of a raucous home crowd, Indy’s Julio Osuna Kelly and Jason Lenzo finished 1-2 on the 3-meter board, upsetting defending champion Isaiah Cheeks. Osuna Kelly and Lenzo nailed their evening dives, scoring 579.50 and 548.00 points, respectively. Osuna earned mostly awards in the mid-60s; his lowest-scoring dive was 52.50 for a reverse 3.5 somersault tuck. His last dive was a forward 4.5 somersault tuck that earned 77.90 points to seal his win.

Lenzo’s dives averaged around 60 points, but he had a 70.50-point performance on his second dive, a back 2.5 somersault pike.

Their teammate Cade Hammond came in sixth place, giving Indy a total of 50 points for the event.

Women’s 400 Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 3:35.70 – Queens (2019)
• Meet Record: 3:35.70 – Queens (2019)

Podium:

1. Nova S’eastern – 3:38.34
2. Indy – 3:40.25
3. Carson-Newman – 3:41.57
4. NMU – 3:43.06
5. Drury – 3:43.14
6. Colorado Mesa – 3:43.41
7. Lynn – 3:43.82
8. West Chester – 3:44.04

Men’s 400 Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 3:07.38 – Queens (2017)
• Meet Record: 3:07.38 – Queens (2017)

Podium:

1. McKendree – 3:08.08
2. Drury – 3:08.85
3. Findlay – 3:09.43
4. Indy – 3:10.38
5. Henderson St. – 3:10.97
6. Wingate – 3:11.11
7. Florida Southern – 3:11.30
8. Wayne State – 3:12.59

Women’s Team Scores After Day 3

1. Nova S’Eastern 300.5
2. Indy 227
3. Drury 178.5
4. Colorado Mesa 150
5. Lynn 130
6. West Chester 118
7. Carson-Newman 93
8. Wingate 88
9. Henderson St. 78
10. West Florida 77
11. (TIE) Wayne State / Grand Valley 75
12. –
13. IUP 64
14. NMU 62
15. McKendree 54
16. Delta State 46
17. Tampa 40
18. Azusa Pacific 31
19. Clarion 25
20. Augustana 21
21. Saint Leo 14
22. (TIE) Findlay / CSU East Bay 10
23. –
24. Mines 9
25. Southern Conn 7
26. (TIE) MSU Mankato / Florida Southern 6
27. –
28. Oklahoma Christian 5
29. Davenport 2
30. (TIE) Emmanuel / Rollins 1

Men’s Team Scores After Day 3

1. Indy 254.5
2. McKendree 197.5
3. Drury 189
4. Tampa 167
5. Colorado Mesa 156.5
6. Findlay 135
7. Grand Valley 128
8. Wingate 121
9. Nova S’Eastern 97
10. Florida Southern 89.5
11. Oklahoma Christian 88
12. Henderson St. 82
13. St Cloud St 61
14. Wayne State 50
15. Clarion 39
16. Missouri S & T 31
17. Carson-Newman 30
18. Saginaw Valley 23
19. Delta State 19
20. Lewis 14
21. UT Permian Basin 11
22. Nmu 8
23. West Chester 7
24. Emmanuel 6
25. Lenoir-Rhyne 6
26. Mines 3
27. Fresno Pacific 2