2023 NCAA Division II Championships: Day 5 Prelims 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 Results (PDF)
• Day 5 prelims heat sheets

Henderson State sophomore Kiara Pozvai, who was runner-up in the 50 free on Wednesday, brings the top time in the 100 free with 49.01. Carson-Newman’s Manon Compagner (49.47), the 100 fly champion on Thursday, and West Chester’s Ann Carozza (49.48), are also title threats. Drury fifth-year Alexandra Waller is seeded with 1:56.06 to lead the 200 backstroke entrants, but 2022 champion Celina Marquez of Nova S’eastern (1:57.57) and 2022 runner-up Luna Mertins from Lynn (1:56.56), as well as Kaitlyn McCoy of Indy (1:57.07) and Katerina Matoskova of Colorado Mesa (1:57.12), are serious contenders. Defending champion, Lily Borgenheimer of Colorado Mesa, leads the 200 breast qualifiers by 2.6 seconds with 2:10.57. Nova S’eastern senior Savanna Best, the 100 breast champion last night, ranks second with 2:13.13, just ahead of Drury’s Claire Conover (2:13.98).

On the men’s side, 50 free runner-up Jack Armstrong of Henderson State comes in with the top time of 42.55 in the 100 free. His teammate Lamar Taylor, who just out-touched him to win the 50 free final on Wednesday night, ranks second with 42.81. McKendree senior Gregg Lichinsky, who won the 100 fly title on Thursday, is seeded with 42.95. In the 200 back, Colorado Mesa’s Benjamin Sampson and Drury’s Nathan Bighetti, who finished second and third in last year’s final, are the top two seeds with 1:39.53 and 1:42.82, respectively. Defending champion JT Amrein of Oklahoma Christian leads the entrants in the 200 breast with 1:54.85. Daniel Garcia, who won the 100 breast last night, ranks second with 1:55.94, while Emmanuel’s Luigi Da Silva comes in with 1:56.51.

Top Ten Women’s Teams After 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

Top Ten Men’s Teams After 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

Women’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

• NCAA DII Record: 48.16 – Polina Lapshina, Queens (NC) (2019)
• Meet Record: 48.16 – Polina Lapshina, Queens (NC) (2019)

Finals qualifiers:

1. Kiara Pozvai, Henderson St. – 49.33
2. Manon Compagner, Carson-Newman – 49.48
3. Helga Fodor, Lynn – 49.66
4. Ann Carozza, West Chester – 49.86
5. Mika Heideyer, Indy – 49.88
6. Johanna Buys, Indy – 50.08
7. Bryn Greenwaldt, Augustana – 50.32
8. Tilde Morin, Tampa – 50.46
9. Lucinda Andrews, Wingate – 50.49
10. Montana White, Azusa Pacific – 50.51
11. Mikayla Niness, West Chester – 50.65
12. Ada Qunell, Colorado Mesa – 50.65
13. Laura Dekoninck, Lynn – 50.71
14. Ruby Bottai, Colorado Mesa – 50.72
15. Brooklyn Dressel, CSU East Bay – 50.81
16. Leticia Vaselli, Indy – 50.89

Andrea Paaske of Indy opened the morning heats with a six-tenths drop in the 100 free to win with 51.35 ahead of Anne Osmun from Colorado School of Mines, who dropped three-tenths to clock in at 51.47.

Drury fifth-year Ellie Walker took heat 2 in 51.08. Florida Tech’s Nicole Rautenberg edged McKendree’s Jocelyn Zgola, 51.46 to 51.51, for second.

Colorado Mesa senior Ruby Bottai won heat 3 out of lane 2, improving her seed time by four-tenths to touch in 50.72. Tampa’s Roma Vrijhof (51.16) eked out a second-place finish ahead of Azusa Pacific freshman Madeline Shultz (51.17).

West Chester’s Ann Carozza, who won the 200 fly last night, took care of the first circle-seeded heat in 49.86, coming to the wall .02 in front of Indy freshman Mika Heideyer (49.88). Bryn Greenwaldt of Augustana was third in 50.32.

Manon Compagner, the 100 fly champion on Thursday night, was first to the wall in heat 5 with 49.49. Tilde Morin from Tampa (50.46) touched out Azusa Pacific’s Montana White (50.51) and Lynn’s Laura Dekoninck (50.71) for second.

Henderson State sophomore Kiara Pozvai won the final heat in 49.33. Lynn’s Helga Fodor went 49.66 for second, improving her seed time by nearly three-tenths. Indy’s Johanna Buys was third with 50.08.

Men’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

• NCAA DII Record: 41.25 – Karol Ostrowski, Drury (2021)
• Meet Record: 41.25 – Karol Ostrowski, Drury (2021)

Finals qualifiers:

1. Gregg Lichinsky, McKendree – 42.84
2. Jack Armstrong, Henderson St. – 43.15
3. Lamar Taylor, Henderson St. – 43.32
4. Matthew Bosch, Grand Valley – 43.33
5. Marcel Snitko, Wingate – 43.53
6. Khameron Glass, Drury – 43.55
7. Viacheslav Ohnov, Wingate – 43.57
8. Joao Silva, Indy – 43.68
9. Kyle Micallef, Florida Southern – 43.71
10. (TIE) Jeron Thompson, Indy / Santiago Aguilera, Tampa – 43.74
11. –
12. Tucker Schroer, Delta State – 43.92
13. Bartosz Mielniczuk, Emmanuel – 43.96
14. Brandon Heredia, OC – 44.05
15. Thomas Flower, Nova S’eastern – 44.09
16. Vladislav Terziev, Drury – 44.11

Abraham Townley of St. Cloud State took nine-tenths off his seed time to win heat 1 in 44.28 ahead of Colorado Mesa’s Matheus Laperriere (44.97).

Heat 2 went to Vladislav Terziev of Drury in 44.11, marking an improvement of eight-tenths from his entry time. Indy’s Serhii Agadzhanyan was second from the outside lane, going 44.23 and beating his seed by eight-tenths, as well. Fresno Pacific’s Jan Bialecki dropped half a second to finish third in 44.53.

Drury’s Kham Glass was the first to break 44 seconds, winning heat 3 in 43.55, a PB by .30. Indy’s Diego Mass (44.13) touched out McKendree’s Caleb Law (44.36) for second.

McKendree sophomore Gregg Lichinsky, who broke the NCAA Division II record in the 200 fly last night, went 42.84 to win the first circle-seeded heat ahead of Grand Valley’s Matthew Bosch (43.33) and Florida Southern’s Kyle Micallef (43.71).

Lamar Taylor, with a huge back half, took heat 5 in 43.32. In third place at the 50, he came back in 22.7 to power past Tucker Schroer, who led at the 50, and Indy’s Jeron Thompson, to get the win. Marcel Snitko of Wingate was second (43.53), followed by Thompson (43.74) and Delta State’s Schroer (43.92).

Henderson State fifth-year Jack Armstrong, who came in with the top time in Division II, won the final heat with 43.15. Viacheslav Ohnov of Wingate (43.57) edged Indy’s Joao Silva (43.66) and Tampa’s Santiago Aguilera (43.74) for second.

Women’s 200 Backstroke – Prelims

• NCAA DII Record: 1:54.48 – Hannah Peiffer, Queens (NC) (2017)
• Meet Record: 1:54.48 – Hannah Peiffer, Queens (NC) (2017)

Finals qualifiers:

1. Alexandra Waller, Drury – 1:56.28
2. Marta Beesmans, Wingate – 1:58.14
3. Kyla Blakemore, Carson-Newman – 1:58.69
4. Kaitlyn McCoy, Indy – 1:58.77
5. Luna Mertins, Lynn – 1:58.78
6. Celina Marquez, Nova S’eastern – 1:58.79
7. Mia Krstevska, Indy – 1:58.88
8. Madysen Barnes, Tampa – 1:58.91
9. Katerina Matoskova, Colorado Mesa – 1:59.16
10. Lauren White, Colorado Mesa – 1:59.43
11. May Lowy, Nova S’eastern – 1:59.67
12. Nina Imboden, West Florida – 1:59.95
13. Andrea Gomez Espinosa, Indy – 2:00.84
14. Cheyenne Denison, OC – 2:00.85
15. Ava Borowski, Tampa – 2:01.47
16. Aurora Duncan, Drury – 2:01.64

Tampa freshman Ava Borowski took 1.3 seconds off her seed time to win the opening heat of 200 backstrokes with 2:01.47 from the outside lane ahead of teammate Madelaine Lauger (2:03.11).

Wingate sophomore Marta Beesmans cruised to a 1:58.14 win in heat 2, while 2022 fourth-place finisher Kaitlyn McCoy of Indy (1:58.77) just touched out Tampa’s Madysen Barney (1:58.91) for second.

Carson-Newman junior Kyla Blakemore dropped a second to win heat 3 out of lane 2, going 1:58.69 to edge Luna Mertins of Lynn by .10. Celina Marquez of Nova S’eastern was third with 1:58.95, while Colorado Mesa’s Lauren White was fourth (1:59.43). Marquez is the defending champion; Mertins was runner-up last year.

Drury fifth-year Alexandra Waller won the final heat with a dominant 1:56.28. Mia Krstevska of Indy went 1:58.88 for second, while Colorado Mesa’s Katerina Matoskova touched third (1:59.16).

Men’s 200 Backstroke – Prelims

• NCAA DII Record: 1:40.74 – Matthew Josa, Queens (NC) (2014)
• Meet Record: 1:40.74 – Matthew Josa, Queens (NC) (2014)

Finals qualifiers:

1. Benjamin Sampson, Colorado Mesa – 1:42.96
2. Andrew Rodriguez, Drury – 1:43.88
3. Santiago Corredor, Tampa – 1:43.95
4. Ney Chagas Filho, Wingate – 1:43.99
5. Parker Knollman, Tampa – 1:44.59
6. Nathan Bighetti, Drury – 1:44.66
7. Raf Hendriks, St Cloud St – 1:45.00
8. William Mahone, Montevallo – 1:45.40
9. Bartolomiej Swiderski, Indy – 1:45.42
10. Jon Osa, UMSL – 1:45.55
11. Andrew Scoggin, Colorado Mesa – 1:45.69
12. Aidan Walters, Missouri S & T – 1:45.77
13. Patryk Rozenek, McKendree – 1:45.78
14. Jonatan Carlsson, Wingate – 1:45.92
15. Berk Ozkul, Delta State – 1:46.01
16. Noah Clancy, Missouri S & T – 1:46.14

Wingate’s Gabriel Costa kicked off the backstroke heats with a 1:46.87 in heat 1, ahead of Lewis fifth-year Mariano Sosa (1:47.31).

Heat 2 produced two tightly contested races: between Santiago Corredor of Tampa and Wingate freshman Ney Chagas Filho for first place, and between Missouri-St. Louis senior Jon Osa and Andrew Scoggin from Colorado Mesa for third. Corredor (1:43.95) touched out Chagas Filho by .04 to win the heat, while Osa got the better of Scoggin by .14 for third, 1:45.55 to 1:45.69.

Drury senior Nathan Bighetti, the bronze medalist in 2022, won heat 3 in 1:44.66. Raf Hendricks of St. Cloud State, who was fifth last year, touched out Montevallo’s William Mahone (1:45.40) and McKendree’s Patryk Rozenek (1:45.78) for second with 1:45.00.

Benjamin Sampson of Colorado Mesa, the 2022 runner-up and this year’s top seed, cruised to a 1:42.96 victory in the last heat ahead of Drury senior Andrew Rodriguez (1:43.88) and Tampa sophomore Parker Knollman (1:44.59).

Women’s 200 Breaststroke – Prelims

• NCAA DII Record: 2:09.12 – Bailee Nunn, Drury (2017)
• Meet Record: 2:09.12 – Bailee Nunn, Drury (2017)

Finals qualifiers:

1. Lily Borgenheimer, Colorado Mesa – 2:12.78
2. Savanna Best, Nova S’eastern – 2:13.02
3. Claire Conover, Drury – 2:14.66
4. Lillian Sanocki, Wingate – 2:14.95
5. Mellie Wijk, Drury – 2:15.47
6. Rachel Johnson, IUP – 2:15.99
7. Celina Schmidt, Indy – 2:16.29
8. Emilia Ronningdal, Nova S’eastern – 2:16.47
9. Inte Pas, Sioux Falls – 2:18.14
10. Zoe Dekievit, NMU – 2:18.17
11. Zara Konstapel, UMSL – 2:18.23
12. Karolina Dubcakova, Indy – 2:18.31
13. Luisa Machado, Drury – 2:18.55
14. Gabriella Moll, Catawba – 2:18.65
15. Jordan Tierney, Mines – 2:18.69
16. Madelyn Koehle, West Chester – 2:19.13

Wingate freshman Nadia Kertynska won heat 1 in 2:21.01 ahead of Tampa senior Alexandria McFarland (2:22.47). In the next heat, Catawba freshman Gabriella Moll came from a second behind at the 150 wall to win with 2:18.65, just getting her hand to the wall ahead of Mines freshman Jordan Tierney (2:18.69).

Claire Conover of Drury won the first circle-seeded heat with 2:14.66, finishing comfortably ahead of IUP fifth-year Rachel Johnson (2:15.99, a 1.1-second improvement), Nova freshman Emilia Ronningdal (2:16.47, PB by 1.7), and Missouri-St. Louis senior Zara Konstapel (2:18.23).

Friday night’s 100 breast champion Savanna Best of Nova S’eastern controlled heat 4 from start to finish, winning with 2:13.02. Wingate senior Lillian Sanocki went 2:14.95 for second. Sioux Falls sophomore Inte Pas touched out NMU’s Zoe Dekievit, 2:18.14 to 2:18.17, for third.

Defending champion Lily Borgenheimer of Colorado Mesa dominated the final heat, winning by two body lengths with 2:12.78. Entered with 2:10.57, she has a shot at the NCAA Division II record tonight. Second to the wall behind Borgenheimer was Drury sophomore Mellie Wijk in 2:15.47. Celina Schmidt of Indy (2:16.29) was third, while Drury’s Luisa Machado (2:18.55) came in fourth from lane 8.

Men’s 200 Breaststroke – Prelims

• NCAA DII Record: 1:51.71 – Anton Lobanov, Nova S’eastern (2015)
• Meet Record: 1:51.71 – Anton Lobanov, Nova S’eastern (2015)

Finals qualifiers:

1. JT Amrein, Oklahoma Christian – 1:56.52
2. Daniel Garcia, Findlay – 1:56.90
3. Filipe Pinheiro, McKendree – 1:57.56
4. Richard Polasek, Davenport – 1:57.98
5. Brayden Cole, Indy – 1:58.18
6. Davi Mourao, Drury – 1:58.41
7. Matteo Zampese, Florida Southern – 1:58.41
8. Owen Stender, Davenport – 1:58.45
9. Sebestyen Bohm, Indy – 1:58.71
10. Athanasios Diamantidi, IUP – 1:58.73
11. Luigi Da Silva, Emmanuel – 1:58.83
12. Jared Mindek, Tampa – 1:59.40
13. Micah McRea, Lenoir-Rhyne – 1:59.52
14. Likith Selvaraj Prema, Indy – 1:59.65
15. Marko Priednieks, Findlay – 1:59.97
16. Olle Williamsson, Nova S’eastern – 2:00.02

Heat 1 was an exciting context between Tampa sophomore Jared Mindek and Lenoir-Rhyne senior Micah McRea, who both dropped eight-tenths to break 2:00. Mindek won with 1:59.40 to McRea’s 1:59.52.

Athanasios Diamantidis from IUP edged Emmanuel freshman Luigi Da Silva, 1:58.73 to 1:58.83, in heat 2. Indy’s Likith Selvaraj Prema touched out Findlay’s Marko Priednieks for third, 1:59.65 to 1:59.97.

Daniel Garcia of Finlay, who came in third in the 100 breast final last night, cruised to a 1:56.90 win in heat 3, with McKendree junior Filipe Pinheiro (1:57.56) and Drury sophomore Davi Mourao (1:58.41) touching second and third. Mourao, who was third in the 200 breast last year, won the 2023 100 breast title on Friday night; Pinheiro finished fourth.

Defending champion JT Amrein of Oklahoma Christian went 1:56.52 in the final heat to get the win ahead of Davenport junior Richard Polasek (1:57.98), Indy junior Brayden Cole (1:58.18), and Matteo Zampese of Florida Southern (1:58.41).

Women’s 1650 Freestyle – Slower Heats

• NCAA DII Record: 16:17.66 – Kristen Frost, Southern Conn St (2008)
• Meet Record: 16:17.66 – Kristen Frost, Southern Conn St (2008)

Top 8:

1. Adelaide Reaser, Truman St. – 16:53.57
2. Rachel Peden, Carson-Newman – 16:58.37
3. Brynhi Traustadottir, Indy – 16:58.77
4. Elise Mason, Hillsdale – 16:59.27
5. Jillian Hughes, Rollins – 17:01.87
6. Barbara Munoz Quintero, Wayne State – 17:04.56
7. Keeley Durkin, West Chester – 17:05.31
8. Olivia Miles, Florida Southern – 17:05.67

Men’s 1650 Freestyle – Slower Heats

• NCAA DII Record: 14:55.12 – Fabio Dalu, McKendree (2021)
• Meet Record: 14:55.12 – Fabio Dalu, McKendree (2021)

Top 8:

1. Colby Hughes, Drury – 15:22.76
2. Miguel Marcos, Wingate – 15:22.87
3. Stanislaw Chalat, Indy – 15:24.02
4. Jon Kantzenbach, Grand Valley – 15:26.14
5. Ondrej Zach, NMU – 15:28.36
6. Tomasz Jackowski, Wayne State – 15:29.09
7. Szymon Kapala, Drury – 15:30.13
8. Anisse Djaballah, Drury – 15:33.15

Men’s 1-Meter Diving – Prelims

• NCAA DII Record: 618.70 – Dario DiFazio, Oakland Univ (1994)
• Meet Record: 618.70 – Dario DiFazio, Oakland Univ (1994)

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Julio Osuna Kelly, Indy – 565.35
2. Zach Schering, Clarion – 510.70
3. Isaiah Cheeks, Colorado Mesa – 505.05
4. Cade Hammond, Indy – 495.70
5. Cole Earl, Drury – 490.70
6. Jason Lenzo, Indy – 484.75
7. Wrigley Fields, Grand Valley – 451.60
8. Carter Wood, UTPB – 432.60
9. Dawson Wilson, Colorado Mesa – 426.65
10. Tobias Stiles, NMU – 419.90
11. Jordan Morret, Clarion – 419.35
12. Isaiah Swilley, Grand Valley – 413.45
13. Matthew Lenzo, UTPB – 406.15
14. Jack Beattie, Clarion – 404.70
15. Wyatt Hermanson, Colorado Mesa – 404.70
16. Grant Porter, Wayne State – 396.45