2026 MAC Fan Guide: Akron Primed for 5th-Straight as MAC Looks to Have Many NCAA Qualifiers

2026 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships – Women

• Dates: Wednesday, February 25–Saturday, February 28
• Location: Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium, Akron, OH
• Defending Champions: Akron women (4x)
• Live Results
• Live Video: ESPN+
• Championship Central
• SwimSwam Fan Guide
• Teams: Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami-OH (women), Ohio, Toledo, UMass
• MAC Record Book

Schedule

Wednesday, February 25

• 200 medley relay
• Team Diving Event
• 800 freestyle relay

Thursday, February 26

• 500 freestyle
• 200 IM
• 50 freestyle
• 1-meter diving
• 400 medley relay

Friday, February 27

• 100 butterfly
• 400 IM
• 200 freestyle
• 100 breaststroke
• 100 backstroke
• 3-meter diving (9th-16th)
• 200 freestyle relay

Saturday, February 28

• 1650 freestyle
• 200 backstroke
• 100 freestyle
• 200 breaststroke
• 200 butterfly
• 3-meter diving (1st-8th)
• 400 freestyle relay

2025 Mid-American Conference Final Standings

1. Akron – 726.5
2. Ohio – 637.5
3. Miami (OH) – 623
4. Buffalo – 567.5
5. Ball State – 305.5
6. Bowling Green – 254.5
7. Eastern Michigan – 215
8. Toledo – 175.5

Akron won their 4th-straight MAC title last year, but it was a relatively close meet, with Ohio finishing just 89 points behind them. Miami (OH) was right there in the hunt as well, just 14.5 points behind Ohio.

Swimmers to Watch

Payton Kelly – Ball State

Ball State senior Payton Kelly has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. She leads the MAC this season in the 50 free with her season best of 22.24. Kelly is 2nd in the 100 free with a 48.60, as well as 2nd in the 200 free with a 1:47.58. Though she won’t swim it because it’s on the same day as the 50 free, Kelly is also leading the MAC in the 500 free this season, having already gone 4:51.22 in that event. Further showing how she’s expanded her events this season, Kelly also leads the conference in the 100 back, where she’s been 52.86 this season.

Kelly is the defending MAC champion in the 50 free, having won the event in 22.23 last season. She also came in 2nd in both the 100 free (48.82) and 200 free (1:47.27).

Ada Szwabinska – Akron

An Akron senior, Ada Szwabinska is once again one of the premier sprinters in the MAC. Last season, she came in 5th in the 200 free (1:48.78), 6th in the 100 free (49.80), and 8th in the 50 free (22.76).

In her senior season, Szwabinska has been exceptional. She ranks 2nd in the 50 free in the MAC this season with a 22.29. She’s also posted her career best in the 100 free this season, 49.33, which puts her 3rd in the event heading into this meet. Szwabinska’s season best of 1:49.67 in the 200 free ranks her 10th in the MAC this year.

Zita Szoke – Ohio

This junior is a returning NCAA qualifier from last year. Szoke not only qualified for the NCAA Championships last year, but was a finalist. She took 11th in 100 free, swimming her career best of 47.62, which also stands as the MAC record in the event. Szoke was also 20th in the 200 free (1:44.54) and 44th in the 50 free (22.26) at NCAAs.

More relevant to this week, Szoke is the defending MAC champion in the 50 free (22.23), 100 free (47.89), and 200 free (1:44.74). Moving into this season, she comes into this meet as the top seed in the 100 free, having already gone 47.63. That time is just 0.01 seconds off her conference record. Szoke also leads the conference in the 200 free, where she’s been as fast as 1:45.83 this season. She has her work cut out for her in the 50 free, where she’s seeded 3rd with her season best of 22.34.

Martyna Piesko – Akron

Akron senior Martyna Piesko is in her 1st season with the Zips. She transferred to Akron from Rutgers. Piesko has clocked her career best in the 100 back this season, having gone a 53.24, which ranks her 3rd in the MAC this season. She’s 2nd in the conference in the 200 back, where she’s been as fast as 1:55.90 this season, which is also a career best. Her 3rd event is traditionally the 100 fly, where she’s been 55.27 this season, which ranks 14th in the conference, but she holds a career best of 53.11.

Casi Dibetta – Ohio

Senior Casi Dibetta returns as one of the premier breaststrokers in the MAC. Dibetta is the defending MAC champion in the 100 and 200 breast, having won the 100 in 59.81 and 200 in 2:10.99. She’s actually the 2-time defending champ in both breaststroke events, as she won the 100 breast (1:00.32) and 200 breast (2:11.59) back at the 2024 MAC Championships.

This season, Dibetta comes into the meet seeded 1st in the 100 breast with her season best of 1:00.45. She also leads the 200 breast, where she’s already been 2:11.03 this year.

Felicia Klintemar – Akron

This sophomore has been exceptional in her 2nd season with the Zips. Last year, she came in 2nd in the 100 fly at the MAC Championships, as well as 5th in the 100 free, and 9th in the 100 back.

This season, Klintemar leads the MAC in the 100 fly with a 52.37. It would appear Klintemar has shifted her events around a bit from last season, as she also leads the conference in the 200 fly with a 1:58.51. On top of that, Klintemar has been 2:00.00 in the 200 IM, which is the top time in the conference as well.

Races To Watch

50 free

The 50 free at this year’s MAC Championships should be one of the best races we’ve seen at any mid-major conference meet this season. The MAC has 8 women who have been under 23 seconds already this season. As previously mentioned, Payton Kelly leads the conference this season with a 22.24, and won this event last year in 22.23. That makes her the favorite, of course, but she has her work cut out for her.

Ada Szwabinska is just a touch behind Kelly, coming into the meet with a season best of 22.29. Zita Szoke is next up with her season best of 22.34.

That takes care of the swimmers who were already covered above. Akron’s Callie Parkes comes in with a season best of 22.35, while Ball State’s Anna Keen has been 22.61. Miami (OH) has a duo of swimmers in this mix, with Natalie Gibson and Kaylin Herbet hold season bests of 22.74 and 22.93 respectively.

Felicia Klintemar has also been under 23 seconds this season, holding a season mark of 22.94, but she’s the top swimmer in the 200 IM, so it’s unlikely she races the 50 free.

100 breast

The 100 breast looks set up to be a great race between Casi Dibetta and Akron’s Claire Cox. Dibetta is the defending MAC champion in this event, having won the race last year in 59.81. Cox finished 3rd in the event last year with a 1:00.78.

This year, Dibetta leads the conference with a 1:00.45, while Cox is close behind, having already been 1:00.69. Dibetta has the edge here, as her 59.81 from last year is her career best, while Cox’s PB is 1:00.65 from 2024.

SwimSwam’s Top 3 Picks

1. Akron
2. Miami (OH)
3. Ohio