2021 NJCAA Swimming & Diving Championships

• Wednesday April 28 – Saturday May 1, 2021
• Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, FL
• Short Course Yards
• Psych Sheet
• Results available via Meet Mobile

The National Junior College Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships start on Wednesday on the campus of Indian River State College. The hosts IRSC will be seeking their 47th consecutive championship for the men and their 40th straight title for the women. 

As with the NCAA championship meets this year, the NJCAA has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Some colleges have chosen not to participate in this year’s meet while others are not permitted to participate. 

The schools competing this year will be: Ancilla College, Barton Community College, Erie Community College, Genesee Community College, Indian River State College, Iowa Central Community College, Iowa Lakes Community College, Jamestown Community College, South Georgia State College, Southwestern Oregon Community College. 

Indian River should easily keep their historical win streak intact for both the men and the women. IRSC owns top seeds in the majority of events and consistently have multiple swimmers seeded in the top eight. In relays, IRSC has a significant advantage as well. Their women’s 800 free relay, for example, is seeded over a minute ahead of second seed Iowa Central. 

Women’s Meet

The IRSC women have four swimmers who will be chasing multiple titles. Sophomore Victoria Ortiz is the swimmer to beat in the mid-distance and distance freestyle events. Ortiz leads the way in the 200 freestyle (1:52.45), 500 free (4:57.19), 1000 free (10:22.82), and the 1650 free (17:02.44). Sophomore Catherine Royden-Turner will be looking to sweep the backstroke events as she is the top seed in the 50 back (26.51), 100 back (56.65), and 200 back (2:05.95); she is also the top seed in the 100 IM (1:01.03). Sophomore Taryn Dailey is seeded first in the 100 butterfly (55.03), 200 butterfly (2:04.98) and she is seeded second in both the 200 IM (2:08.69) and the 100 free (52.98). Freshman Rylee Woelk is the top seed in the 200 IM (2:08.23), 400 IM (4:35.06), and the 200 breaststroke (2:20.85). 

There is one women’s event where Indian River is not the top seed. Jacqueline Feutado of SWOCC is seeded first in the 100 freestyle at 52.96, just .02 ahead of Dailey. 

The women’s team scores will see SWOCC and Iowa Central competing for second and third place.

Men’s Meet

Similar to the women, the IRSC men have five swimmers who will be looking to win multiple national titles. Sophomore Aramis Ramirez is seeking to sweep the IM events as he is top seed in the 100 IM (51.24), 200 IM (1:49.38), and 400 IM (3:59.69); he is also seeded second in the 200 breaststroke (2:02.74) behind teammate Michael Deans (1:58.22). Deans owns the top seed in the 100 breast (54.60) as well. Sophomore Brennan Hammond is seeded first in the 100 butterfly (49.75) and the 200 fly (1:48.34). IRSC has a pair of aces who will be chasing titles in the distance freestyle events. Chance Conde leads the way in the 500 free (4:27.53), the 1650 free (15:45.13), and is second in the 1000 free (9:50.89). Sophomore teammate Maxwell Miller is seeded first in the 1000 free (9:40.86), second in the 500 (4:36.13), and second in the 1650 (15:55.90).

As compared to the women’s meet, there is a bit more variety of schools represented at the top of the Psych Sheet. Sophomore Alejandro Robles Ruiz of SWOCC is seeded first in three events: the 50 freestyle (20.80), the 50 backstroke (23.07), and the 100 back (49.68). Johan Cue Carrillo, a freshman from Barton CC is the top seed in the 50 breaststroke. His time of 25.38 is .30 seconds ahead of the second seed Deans.

Just as with the women, Iowa Central and SWOCC will be competing for second and third. 

Coronavirus protocols

The NJCAA has released their COVID-19 protocols ahead of the meet.

All members of a team’s travel party (athletes, coaches, support staff) are required to be tested for COVID-19 within 96 hours [4 days] of their first designated practice day at the championship. Teams will need to turn in proof of testing prior to receiving their meet credentials.

Acceptable documentation includes:

• Proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Colleges can choose which test they use.
• Proof of vaccine completion
• Proof of being diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 90 days but without any current symptoms.

Each team competing at the meet is required to fill-out symptom tracking forms including temperature monitoring. Screening needs to be done within six hours of the beginning of the contest. These tracking forms will be turned in daily by each team.