2023 NCAA Division II Championships: Day 4 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)
• Live Stream (NCAA.com)
• Day 1 Results (PDF)
• Day 2 Results (PDF)
• Day 3 Results (PDF)
• Day 4 finals heat sheets

Day Four finals session will consist of the women’s and men’s 500 free, 100 back, 100 breast, and 200 fly and the women’s 3-meter diving. We will conclude the session with timed finals of the women’s and men’s 200 free relay.

Nova S’eastern’s Emily Trieschmann, who set the NCAA D2 record in the 1000 free on Wednesday, is the top qualifier in the 500 free by over 2.5 seconds with 4:49.79. Lauren White of Colorado Mesa leads the field in the 100 back with 54.27, but the entire A final is only separated by .52. 2022 bronze medalist Savanna Best of Nova S’eastern (1:01.28) will be in lane 4 of the 100 breast. Meet record-holder Ann Carozza West Chester had the fastest time this morning in the 200 fly; Luna Mertins of Lynn, runner-up to Carozza last year, and IUP’s Paige Mikesell, who took second in 2021, will be on either side of her.

Oklahoma Christian’s Victor Rosado, the 2022 silver medalist, is top seed in the 500 free with 4:21.80. Indy’s Cedric Buessing, the 1000 champion on Wednesday, and Eric Hieber of Grand Valley will challenge Rosado for the title. Henderson State’s Lamar Taylor topped the qualifiers in the 100 back with 46.42 this morning. McKendree has the top spots in the 100 breast with Felipe Pinheiro (52.69) and in the 200 fly with Jackson Lustig (1:42.64).

Top Ten Women’s Teams 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

Top Ten Men’s Teams 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

Women’s 500 Freestyle – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 4:39.28 – Patri Castro Ortega, Queens (NC) (2016)
• Meet Record: 4:39.28 – Patri Castro Ortega, Queens (NC) (2016)

Podium:

1. Emily Trieschmann, Nova S’eastern – 4:45.56
2. Jordan Fox, Wayne State – 4:50.13
3. Montana White, Azusa Pacific – 4:51.54
4. Mikayla Niness, West Chester – 4:52.88
5. Katerina Matoskova, Colorado Mesa – 4:53.06
6. Keeley Durkin, West Chester – 4:53.94
7. Ilaria Murzilli, Nova S’eastern – 4:56.56
8. Victoria Murillo, UMary – 4:58.09

After her meet record in the 1000 free, Nova S’eastern’s Emily Trieschmann won her second event of the meet with a 4:45.56 in the 500 free. Trieschmann led from the start; she was already half a body length ahead by the 100 and outsplit everyone by about half a second per 50 through the 400.

Wayne State’s Jordan Fox, who was in second place throughout the 20 laps, improved her time by 2.2 seconds from this morning and clocked in at 4:50.13.

Azusa Pacific’s Montana White fended off a challenge from Katerina Matoskova of Colorado Mesa, who was close on her tail from about the 200 through the 400. White took off over the last 100 yards and finished clear of the rest of the field with 4:51.54 for third.

West Chester’s Mikayla Niness passed Matoskova on the final 50 to get fourth.

Men’s 500 Freestyle – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 4:17.09 – Dion Dressens, Queens (NC) (2016)
• Meet Record: 4:17.09 – Dion Dressens, Queens (NC) (2016)

Podium:

1. Hayden Curley, Tampa – 4:18.66
2. Cedric Buessing, Indy – 4:19.34
3. Victor Rosado, OC – 4:19.45
4. Eric Hieber, Grand Valley – 4:21.98
5. Joao Nogueira, Drury – 4:22.53
6. Luca Alessandrini, Nova S’eastern – 4:23.37
7. Barnabas Fluck, Tampa – 4:27.39
8. Christian Hedeen, Indy – 4:29.90

Indy sophomore Cedric Buessing made the early move from lane 3, getting out to a half-body lead at the 100. Tampa’s Hayden Curley went with him from lane 1 and the pair traded stroke for stroke through the 200. Curley began to inch ahead of Buessing, outsplitting him by over half a second per 100 yards through the 400.

While Curley was solidly leading the pack from lane 1, Oklahoma Christian’s Victor Rosado was closing in on Buessing in the middle of the pool. Rosado caught him at the 400 and moved into second place. It looked like he might catch Curley, too, but the Tampa fifth-year put his legs to work coming off the 400 wall and motored home to victory with 4:18.66.

Meanwhile, Buessing wasn’t ready to call it a day. He split 24.74 over the final 50 yards to get his hand to the wall just ahead of Rosado, clocking a 4:19.34 for second place. Rosado took third with 4:19.45.

Women’s 100 Backstroke – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 52.07 – Polina Lapshina, Queens (NC) (2019)
• Meet Record: 52.07 – Polina Lapshina, Queens (NC) (2019)

Podium:

1. Kaitlyn McCoy, Indy – 53.88
2. Mollie Morfelt, Nova S’eastern – 54.24
3. Alexandra Waller, Drury – 54.26
4. Kyla Blakemore, Carson-Newman – 54.40
5. Lauren White, Colorado Mesa – 54.41
6. Kiara Pozvai, Henderson St. – 54.50
7. Abby Gronholz, MSU Mankato – 54.71
8. Celina Marquez, Nova S’eastern – 54.93

After a fourth-place finish in 2021 and a fifth in 2022, Indy’s Kaitlyn McCoy won the 100 back in her last at-bat with a dominant 53.88.

Nova S’eastern’s Mollie Morfelt was first to flip at the 25 wall from lane 8. Carson Newman’s Kyla Blakemore, next to Morfelt in lane 7, led the field at the 50 with Morfelt just behind. Nova’s Celia Marquez was in third.

McCoy, who was in seventh place at the 50, came home in a quick 27.49, picking off competitors one by one until she had the lead just under the flags.

Morfelt wound up in second place, followed by Drury’s Alexandra Waller (54.26) and Blakemore (54.40).

Men’s 100 Backstroke – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 45.09 – Marius Kusch, Queens (NC) (2019)
• Meet Record: 45.09 – Marius Kusch, Queens (NC) (2019)

Podium:

1. Lamar Taylor, Henderson St. – 45.95
2. Tim Stollings, Findlay – 46.34
3. Nathan Bighetti, Drury – 46.69
4. Benjamin Sampson, Colorado Mesa – 47.12
5. Khameron Glass, Drury – 47.14
6. Jon Osa, UMSL – 47.78
7. Daniel Aizenberg, Florida Tech – 48.32
8. Ney Chagas Filho, Wingate – 48.35

Lamar Taylor of Henderson State led from wire to wire in the 100 back final. He and Findlay’s Tim Stollings, last year’s eighth-place finisher, were out together at the 25 wall but Taylor was about a tenth faster on the second 25 to turn in 21.94. Stollings flipped at 22.05. Florida Tech’s Daniel Aizenberg was in third with 22.37.

Taylor split 24.0 on the back half to dip under 46 seconds for the first time and get the win with 45.95. That’s a huge improvement from last year, when as a sophomore, he finished 17th with 47.84.

Stollings held his position and came in second with 46.34, while Drury’s Nathan Bighetti moved up to third (46.69).

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 59.51 – Theresa Michalak, West Florida (2017)
• Meet Record: 59.51 – Theresa Michalak, West Florida (2017)

Podium:

1. Savanna Best, Nova S’eastern – 1:01.13
2. Rachel Johnson, IUP – 1:01.71
3. Claire Gass, Nova S’eastern – 1:02.01
4. Celina Schmidt, Indy – 1:02.22
5. Amanda Wenhold, Wingate – 1:01.29
6. Zara Konstapel, UMSL – 1:02.59
7. Lily Borgenheimer, Colorado Mesa – 1:02.62
8. Madeleine Moran, Colorado Mesa – 1:02.99

Savanna Best of Nova S’eastern, the third-place finisher in this event a year ago, claimed the 2023 title with 1:01.13. Best led the field at the 50 with 28.53, a tenth ahead of Wingate’s Amanda Wenhold at the halfway point.

IUP’s Rachel Johnson had a strong third 25, moving from fourth place to second. Johnson nearly caught Best, but a good pulldown off the third wall and a strong finish kept the Nova senior just out of reach.

Johnson took second with 1:01.71, while Best’s teammate Claire Gass moved into third, stopping the clock at 1:02.01.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 51.63 – Anton Lobanov, Nova S’eastern (2015)
• Meet Record: 51.63 – Anton Lobanov, Nova S’eastern (2015)

Podium:

1. Davi Mourao, Drury – 52.65
2. Matteo Zampese, Florida Southern – 52.68
3. Daniel Garcia, Findlay – 52.87
4. Filipe Pinheiro, McKendree – 52.92
5. Luigi Da Silva, Emmanuel – 53.17
6. (TIE) JT Amrein, OC / Luca Chiandussi, Findlay – 53.24
7. –
8. Brayden Cole, Indy – 53.48

It was anyone’s game at the halfway point of the men’s 100 breast. The eight finalists turned at 24.4, 24.5, 24.6, and 24.7, with Daniel Garcia of Findlay leading in 24.46. McKendree’s Filipe Pinheiro followed with 24.47, and Florida Southern’s Matteo Zampese was third with 24.56.

The tables turned on the second 50, when Drury’s Davi Mourao came from fourth place to challenge the leaders. He came home in 28.0 to touch out the leaders with a winning 52.65. Mourao was seventh in last year’s final.

Zampese got past Garcia on the last stroke and claimed the silver medal in 52.68, while Garcia edged Pinheiro, 52.87 to 52.92, for third.

Women’s 200 Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 1:55.98 – Ann Carozza, West Chester (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:55.98 – Ann Carozza, West Chester (2022)

Podium:

1. Ann Carozza, West Chester – 1:57.73
2. Aurora Duncan, Drury – 1:59.30
3. May Lowy, Nova S’eastern – 1:59.83
4. Mellie Wijk, Drury – 2:00.15
5. Paige Mikesell, IUP – 2:00.44
6. Luna Mertins, Lynn – 2:00.91
7. Megan Clifford, Hillsdale – 2:01.81
8. Cheyenne Denison, OC – 2:01.98

Defending champion and NCAA Division II record-holder Ann Carozza of West Chester dominated the 200 fly final from start to finish. Up by a body length already at the 100, she finished 1.6 seconds ahead of second-place Aurora Duncan of Drury, with 1:57.73.

At the 50 wall, Carozza was followed by Luna Mertins of Lynn and IUP’s Paige Mikesell. As she extended her lead over the field on the next 50, Duncan moved past Mertins and Mikesell and settle in at second place. It was Carozza, followed by Duncan and Mertins, through the 150.

Over the final 50 yards, Nova S’eastern’s May Lowy powered past Mertins to take third place in 1:59.83.

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 1:41.19 – Alex Kunert, Queens (NC) (2019)
• Meet Record: 1:41.19 – Alex Kunert, Queens (NC) (2019)

Podium:

1. Jackson Lustig, McKendree – 1:40.75
2. Andrew Rodriguez, Drury – 1:45.08
3. Dejan Urbanek, Colorado Mesa – 1:45.30
4. Dominik Karacic, Drury – 1:46.53
5. Alejandro Villarejo, Drury – 1:46.53
6. Serhii Agadzhanyan, Indy – 1:46.71
7. Steven Aimable, Nova S’eastern – 1:46.83
8. David Bocci, Clarion – 1:47.41

McKendree sophomore Jackson Lustig destroyed the NCAA Division II national record in the 200 fly, going 1:40.75 to take .44 off the previous mark set by Alex Kunert of Queens in 2019.

Lustig, whose best time coming into the meet was 1:42.14 from the 2022 Mizzou Invite last November, dropped 1.39 seconds en route to his victory.

• New PB: 22.39 – 25.35 – 26.29 – 26.72
• Old PB: 22.60 – 25.59 – 26.55 – 27.50

Lustig swam his own race from start to finish, out in clear water with only the clock pushing him. He was up by a half-body at the 50, a full body at the 100, and by about 10 meters at the 150.

Behind him, the race was on for second and third. Steven Aimable of Nova S’eastern led the field behind Lustig at the 50, with Dominik Karacic just behind. Karacic and Aimable switched places at the 100 turn and again at the 150.

Drury’s Andrew Rodriguez and Colorado’s Dejan Urbanek had the strongest fourth 50s behind Lustig; they finished in second and third place with 1:45.08 and 1:45.30, respectively.

Women’s 3-Meter Diving

• NCAA DII Record: 555.70 – Elizabeth Rawlings, Wayne State (2015)
• Meet Record: 555.70 – Elizabeth Rawlings, Wayne State (2015)

Podium:

1. Luna Vejarano, Clarion – 484.60
2. Mikaela Senkus, Wayne State – 479.70
3. Maddie Kooistra, Grand Valley – 475.90
4. Regan Gubera, McKendree – 444.75
5. Meredith Matchinsky, St. Cloud State – 443.95
6. Olivia Nelson, West Florida – 429.00
7. Daniela Reyes, West Florida – 419.55
8. Mikaela Starr, Indy – 410.60

Clarion freshman Luna Vejarano completed her sweep of the boards with 484.60 points to claim the 3-meter crown, after having won the 1-meter diving event on Wednesday. Vejarano got off to a strong start with an inward 2.5 somersault tuck that netted 49.95 points to lead the round. Her next dive, a back 2.5 somersault tuck earned 54.60 points and was again the top-scoring dive of the round. She secured her victory on the final dive, a back 1.5 somersault 1.5 twist free that earned 50.40 points.

Wayne State freshman Mikaela Senkus was runner-up for the second time. She scored 479.70 points to beat Maddie Kooistra of Grand Valley (475.90). Her highest-scoring dive was a reverse 2.5 somersault tuck that notched 57.40 points in round 3. She also had the top-scoring dives in rounds 5 and 6 with a back 1.5 somersault 1.5 twist free (48.00 points) and a back 1.5 somersault 2.5 twist free (51.80) points.

Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 1:30.05 – Queens (2018)
• Meet Record: 1:30.05 – Queens (2018)

Podium:

1. Indy – 1:30.58
2. Colorado Mesa – 1:32.12
3. Wingate – 1:32.28
4. Drury – 1:32.49
5. McKendree – 1:32.63
6. Delta State – 1:32.74
7. Tampa – 1:32.77
8. West Chester – 1:32.96

Indy crushed the last heat of the relays, with Johanna Buys (22.43), Julia Magierowska (22.71), Andrea Paaske (22.90), and Leticia Vaselli (22.54) combining for 1:30.58 to take the heat by 1.6 seconds over Colorado Mesa (Ruby Bottai, Isabel Powers, Logan Anderson, and Ada Qunell) and Wingate (Kelsea Munro, Natalia Dwojak, Amanda Wehnold, and Lucinda Andrews).

Carson-Newman won the previous heat with 1:33.04 in a very tight race with Augustana (1:33.27), Findlay (1:33.34), and Lynn (1:33.52).

Northern Michigan (1:33.25) edged Cal State East Bay (1:33.58), Wayne State (1:34.12), and West Florida (1:34.20) in the first heat.

Men’s 200 Freestyle Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA DII Record: 1:16.90 – Drury (2021)
• Meet Record: 1:16.90 – Drury (2021)

Podium:

1. Indy – 1:17.19
2. McKendree – 1:17.73
3. Henderson State – 1:18.14
4. Florida Southern – 1:18.55
5. Oklahoma Christian – 1:19.08
6. Drury – 1:19.14
7. Cloud State – 1:19.18
8. Wayne State – 1:19.49

Indy, helped by an 18.63 split from Diego Mas, won the final heat of men’s 200 free relays with 1:17.19. Jeron Thompson led off for the Greyhounds in 19.56. He was followed by Mas (18.63), Joao Silva (19.32), and Aqeel Joseph (19.68), who successfully held off a strong challenge from McKendree in lane 5.

McKendree got off to a quick start with Gregg Lichinsky’s 19.36 leadoff. Mario Perez Torrado went 19.67 on the second leg, while Alireza Yavari and Caleb Law finished with 19.29 and 19.41, respectively. The Bearcats finished second with 1:17.73.

Henderson State (Jack Armstrong, Lamar Taylor, Jase Pinckney, and Tim Holt) came in third in the heat with 1:18.14.

Florida Southern (Matteo Zampese, Kyle Micallef, Brandon Wilson, and Cameron Lai-Harris) won the previous heat by a body length with 1:18.55. Wingate had been second to the wall but was disqualified for an early takeoff, so Tampa placed second with 1:20.11.

Grand Valley won the first heat when Carson-Newman was DQd for early takeoff.

Women’s Team Scores Through Day 4

1. Nova S’Eastern 434.5
2. Indy 344
3. Drury 263.5
4. Colorado Mesa 258
5. West Chester 192
6. Lynn 160
7. Wingate 154
8. Carson-Newman 126
9. Wayne State 120
10. West Florida 110
11. McKendree 101
12. Henderson St. 97
13. IUP 95
14. Grand Valley 91
15. Nmu 79
16. Delta State 78
17. Tampa 74
18. Clarion 58
19. Azusa Pacific 50
20. Augustana 33
21. Findlay 21
22. MSU Mankato 18
23. Oklahoma Christian 16
24. (TIE) St Cloud St / Saint Leo 14
25. –
26. CSU East Bay 14
27. UMSL 13
28. Hillsdale 12
29. UMary 11
30. Mines 9
31. (TIE) Florida Southern / Southern Conn 7
32. –
33. Emmanuel 6
34. Davenport 4
35. Truman St. 3
36. (TIE) Rollins / PennWest 1

Men’s Team Scores Through Day 4

1. Indy 373.5
2. Drury 338
3. McKendree 273.5
4. Tampa 225
5. Colorado Mesa 204.5
6. Findlay 195.5
7. Grand Valley 162
8. Wingate 151
9. Oklahoma Christian 146.5
10. Florida Southern 142.5
11. Henderson St. 134
12. Nova S’Eastern 132
13. St Cloud St 88
14. Wayne State 72
15. Clarion 50
16. Missouri S & T 44
17. Carson-Newman 36
18. Saginaw Valley 31
19. (TIE) Delta State / UMSL 21
20. –
21. Emmanuel 20
22. Lewis 16
23. Florida Tech 12
24. (TIE) NMU / UT Permian Basin 11
25. –
26. Mines 10
27. West Chester 7
28. (TIE) Rollins / Lenoir-Rhyne 6
29. –
30. Davenport 3
31. Fresno Pacific 2