2026 NCAA Division II Championships: Day 1 Live Recap

2026 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships

• March 10-14, 2026
• Deaconess Aquatic Center — Evansville, Indiana
• SCY (25 Yards)
• Defending Champions
  • Women: Nova Southeastern (3x)
  • Men: vacant
• Psych Sheets
  • Men
  • Women
• Live Video: NCAA.com
• Live Results

It is the opening night of action from Evansville for the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships. Tonight’s event slate features only one event: the men’s and women’s 800 freestyle relays.

Entering tonight, the Nova Southeastern women hold the top entry time at 7:11.17, nearly 2.5 seconds ahead of Colorado Mesa at 7:13.47. The only other sub-7:20 entry time is held by Simon Fraser in 7:19.86.

On the men’s side, Drury holds a second-and-a-half lead over Colorado Mesa (6:22.63) in 6:21.25. The top six men’s relay teams are only separated by just over four seconds, making for some exciting battles for team scoring.

Women’s 800 Freestyle Relay

• NCAA Division II Record: 7:08.50, Nova Southeastern (2024)
• Championship Record: 7:08.50, Nova Southeastern (2024)

Top 8:

1. Nova Southeastern- 7:08.52
2. Colorado Mesa- 7:13.88
3. Grand Valley- 7:14.24
4. Tampa- 7:15.54
5. Drury- 7:16.18
6. Simon Fraser- 7:17.16
7. Catawba- 7:19.77
8. Wingate- 7:21.11

Nova Southeastern looked every bit as dominant as advertised, getting out to about a half-second of separation between themselves and the field. Grand Valley State held its ground, consistently staying within a half-body length of Nova Southeastern throughout. GVSU’s Lucy Hedley kept her squad close through the opening leg of this race with a 1:46.57 leg, though it was Emilia Ronningdal that would turn touch ahed in 1:46.19. NSU did not begin to distance itself from GVSU until the final exchange. From there, it would be Nova Southeastern pulling away as Kristina Orban split 1:45.74 on the anchor, just narrowly missing the Division II record in 7:08.52.

Colorado Mesa began to make a late race charge after appearing to be a non-factor early, but went stroke-for-stroke with Grand Valley State on the final 250 yards. Eyes were on the clock for a potential record. The battle between Grand Valley and Colorado Mesa for the silver and bronze. Olivia Hansson‘s 1:48.81 outpowered Grand Valley’s Katie O’Connell (1:49.55) with 75 left to secure Colorado Mesa’s silver in 7:13.88. Grand Valley would finish 3rd in 7:14.24.

Indianapolis led from the get-go in heat 2, but was then heavily pressured by West Florida at the 500 mark. By the 700 turn, West Florida had taken control, taking the top time in 7:23.19. Indianapolis followed about two body lengths in 7:25.23.

Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay:

• NCAA Division II Record: 6:17.93, Tampa (2025)
• Championship Record: 6:17.93, Tampa (2025)

Top 8:

1. Tampa- 6:16.64 *NEW NCAA DII/CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD
2. Drury- 6:16.80
3. Colorado Mesa- 6:19.80
4. Indianapolis- 6:21.74
5. McKendree- 6:23.54
6. Wingate- 6:23.57
7. Grand Valley- 6:26.42
8. Rollins- 6:26.44

McKendree took an early lead off the start out of lane 8, surging to a body length lead at the 200 in 1:32.40 from Vova Gavrysh, the fastest of the opening leg by a full second and setting a new NCAA Division II Record in the 200 free, besting the 2016 time from Queens’ Dion Dreesens of 1:32.46.

Colorado Mesa and Drury each powered their relays back into contention by the halfway point, though McKendree still held the slight advantage, despite major splits from Colorado Mesa’s Ben Vester (1:35.53) and Drury’s Matteo Vissotto (1:34.10).

Just past the first 100 yards of the 3rd leg, the top three teams were now all neck and neck and neck, though this time it was Tampa who had charged to the front with a powerful 3rd leg from Jacob Hamlin in 1:33.32, ahead of Drury’s Alvaro Zornoza (1:34.97) and Colorado Mesa’s Richard Schmiedefeld (1:35.40) . The Spartans were eyeing a repeat as champions, but were being pushed hard by Drury.

The entirety of the race came down to the final 50, as Tampa turned just tenths ahead at the 750 mark. Tampa unleashed a fury to close out the race, with Nicholas Cavic (1:33.14) consistently gained separation from Drury’s Joao Nogueira (1:32.85) on the final 50, ultimately coming away victorious in a new NCAA Division II Record 6:16.64, besting their own 2025 National and Championship meet record of 6:17.93.

The first of two men’s heats was tight for a majority of the race. Grand Valley, Florida Southern, Findlay, Northern Michigan, and Wayne State had all put themselves into contention to win at various points in the heat. Ultimately, a strong final 300 yards from Grand Valley would be the deciding factor, as they would carry their momentum and turn it into a two-second win over Florida Southern (6:28.43) in 6:26.42.

Women’s Top 10 After Day 1

1. Nova S’eastern — 40
2. Colorado Mesa — 34
3. Grand Valley — 32
4. Tampa — 30
5. Drury — 28
6. Simon Fraser — 26
7. Catawba — 24
8. Wingate — 22
9. West Florida — 18
10. Indianapolis — 14

Men’s Top 10 After Day 1

1. Tampa — 40
2. Drury — 34
3. Colorado Mesa — 32
4. Indianapolis — 30
5. McKendree — 28
6. Wingate — 26
7. Grand Valley — 24
8. Rollins — 22
9. Florida Southern — 18
10. Findlay — 14