2026 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Dates: Wednesday, March 25–Saturday, March 28
- Location: McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA
- Defending Champions: Texas (1x)
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We have just one more session remaining. Five more heats to go at the 2026 men’s NCAA championships, and a winner shall be crowned. However, even outside of (likely) Texas, there are some overreactions we can take into the offseason.
This Is An Inflection Point For Virginia
Virginia scored just 14 points last year, none of which came from individual events, and the picture looked a little bleak when their historic recruiting class arrived on campus this fall. After an encouraging showing at ACCs they have been fantastic at NCAAs, led by their dynamic freshman duo.
Thomas Heilman and Maximus Williamson both scratched the 50 free, but have been ‘A’ finalists in their other two events. Williamson took the 200 free title out of lane eight on day two while Heilman was 4th in the 100 fly, and they combined to lethal effect on the Cavalier’s 400 medley relay last night.
Joined by David King and Heilman’s older brother Matt, they set a new school record and were just 0.21 off Texas’ American record from midseason. They finished 8th, their second All-American relay of the meet.
King and Jack Aikins have both swum well this week too, with King tying with Williamson in the 200 free prelims before ceding the finals spot to his younger teammate. Both King and Aikins made the 200 back ‘A’ final today, placing 2nd and 3rd in the heats – a stark contrast to 12 months ago.
Both swimmers scratched the event on the final day, with Aikins going all-in on the 400 free relay, swum in the evening session in the old schedule. That relay scored just 2 points as they placed 16th, and those were the only points they scored on the final day. With 84 projected points this year, the tables have certainly turned.
Texas’ Non-Stars Step Up
Texas were probably safe from a Florida surge on the final day without any of their swimmers moving up, but the 16 extra points they got from swimmers who were not seeded for any today was a nice bonus that will pull them further away from the Gators.
Six of those points came from Rex Maurer in the 200 back, but the other ten came from less heralded swimmers. Cooper Lucas placed 14th in the 200 fly, the same place he finished in prelims last year, while Kyle Peck moved up from 18th to 13th as he broke 1:40 for the first time in 1:39.94. That was Peck’s second point-scoring swim of the meet after placing 16th in the 100 fly on day 2.
The other swimmer to move up from zero points was Garrett Gould in the 100 free. Having come to Texas as 20.3/43.8 in sprint free, he dropped to 18.89/41.86 before the meet, and only qualified for NCAAs as the second alternate after Luca Urlando and Lance Norris scratched out. Having not initially made the meet, he ended up placing 14th in the 100 free, dropping 0.39 seconds to go 41.47. Sprint freestylers haven’t grown on trees at Texas recently – Gould’s progress is certainly welcome.
Could Pitt Become A Powerhouse?
Pitt had a great women’s meet last week as they placed 16th overall and had Claire Jansen make the ‘A’ final in the 100 back and 200 back. The men’s team may have a similar performance, with Julian Koch in the 100 free final tonight after placing 8th in the 100 fly final, and the 400 free relay setting a program record for, at worst, 11th overall with one heat left to swim.
They are projected for 32 points tonight with Koch as the top seed in the 100 free, but even if he is overhauled by defending gold and silver medalists Josh Liendo and Gui Caribe this will still be a successful NCAAs for the non-powerhouse ACC school. The Panthers scored 13 points last year – all from diver Cameron Cash – and are set to at least triple that mark this year.
Julian Koch may have been their only individual qualifier, but there have been strong performances from Merlon Belmon (41.95 100 free split, 1:32.99 200 free split) and freshman Alan Vergine (42.17 100 free split, 1:32.65 200 free split). With the progression the team has made under coach under coach Chase Kreitler, we could see some high-level recruits turn their attention towards Pitt.
North By NorthWest(ern)
Northwestern are another school which hasn’t scored many points in recent year, but have had a good week so far with individual points coming from Stuart Seymour and Josh Staples and some solid relays. Having scored zero points last year, they are set for at least 37 this year.
Relays have been a noticeable part of that, with the 400 medley placing 12th and the 400 free likely to place 13th today, making for 18 points in total. Staples scored 11 points in the 400 IM, one season after placing last in the 500 free, and Stuart Seymour placed 15th in the 100 fly and 11th in the 100 back, the latter in a new best time.
With both of those athletes, as well as every relay leg they have had, having at least one more year in the NCAA, there is potential to be even better next year. Oli Kos and Cade Duncan have made huge progress this year and will aim to be in the mix for points as well in 2027 – adding in top recruit Brandon Ha should make this team one to watch.
Cal Are In A Transition Year Which Could Be More Than 12 Months Long
Cal are in the same position as Texas were in 2023, with few household names and some clear gaps in the squad at NCAAs. However, it is not just the newer swimmers struggling this year – Humberto Najera missed scoring in the 200 back as the #4 seed, one year on from making the ‘B’ final and placing 13th.
With another large recruiting class coming next season, the squad is certainly being restocked, but the only real stars on the squad are breaststroke champion Yamato Okadome and distance free specialist Ryan Erisman. No other swimmer has made an ‘A’ final this week, and the effect the two can have on relays is limited – Okadome only on the medleys and Erisman only swimming the 800 free.
There doesn’t seem an obvious path back to the top table next year. Lucca Battaglini could be their sprint freestyler, but they have gaps on fly and backstroke, with Evan Petty graduating this year having been their only backstroker under 45 seconds this season.
It may be another year or two before Cal are back at the level they have been during the last few years, with their 16-year streak of top-two finishes at NCAAs broken this year. Scoring fewer points than projected in what feels like the first time in forever shows how much the squad has changed – no longer can the season be seen predominantly as just the buildup for NCAAs.
