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Dayton Raiders’ Alex Drachuk has announced his intentions to further his academic and athletic future at the University of Cincinnati, beginning in the fall of 2026.
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career to the University of Cincinnati. Thank you so much to my family, friends, and coaches with their endless support to allow me to have this moment. Thank you to Coach Blake and Mandy for this journey and connecting me to this school. I am so excited for these next years and what I will accomplish. GO BEARCATS!!!
Drachuk hails from Dayton, Ohio, where he represents Beavercreek High School. As a junior, Drachuk earned his first OHSAA Division I State Championship title by winning the 500 freestyle, clocking 4:31.63, a seven-spot improvement from his sophomore season, where he finished 8th in 4:44.31. He also finished 2nd in the 200 free, stopping the clock in 1:38.83, 10 spots better than when he was a sophomore.
One of Drachuk’s best short-course performances came in early December at the OLY NCSA Winter Championships, where he set lifetime bests in the 100 free (45.63), 200 free (1:37.85), 500 free (4:29.32), 1000 free (9:34.84), 50 backstroke (23.60), 200 back (1:51.88), and the 100 butterfly (50.39).
A week later, Drachuk competed in Indianapolis at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships (SCY). He swam a personal best time on the meet in the 100 back, clocking 50.85, finishing 83rd overall. He also notably finished 50th in the 500 free (4:31.90), 58th in the 200 free (1:39.79), and 99th in the 100 free (46.13).
Best Times SCY:
- 100 Free: 45.63
- 200 Free: 1:37.85
- 500 Free: 4:29.32
- 1000 Free: 9:34.84
- 100 Back: 50.85
- 100 Fly: 50.39
Drachuk joins a Bearcat men’s team that finished 6th at the 2025 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships last season.
With Drachuk’s best times, he would have finished 29th in the 500 free, 30th in the 200 free, and 35th in the 100 free at those championships.
Drachuk would have been just outside of scoring contention at those Big 12 championships last season, but his addition for next season addresses an immediate need.
Cincinnati scored just 11 points in the 200 free last season, the least of any other team competing. The 500 free was a similar story, with the Bearcat men scoring the 2nd-fewest points in the event, with just 15.
Marin De Villard, a current junior at Cincinnati, was the lone scorer in the 200 free last season at Big 12s. This season, De Villard (1:37.74) currently ranks 4th on the 2025-2026 team behind freshman Aiden Gerst (1:36.61), sophomore Luke Van Deusen (1:36.68), and sophomore Owen Chiles (1:37.28). All four of them will still be on the roster next season, and with Drachuk coming in, the middle-distance freestyle room for the Bearcats is well stocked.
Drachuk joins Owen Durham, Hayden Hall, Brady Julian, and Parker Macho in the 2026 recruiting class for Cincinnati.
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