To B Or Not To B: Division III and the Case for Big Beautiful ‘B’ Finals

At the recent Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, where the top eight rightfully earned the finals spotlight, there was a compelling pattern that you couldn’t ignore: The ‘A’ finals were bursting with last year’s ‘B’ finalists.

From one year to the next, consolation finals can be where breakthroughs begin and opportunities abound. ‘B’ finals are about becoming better and believing you belong. ‘B’ finals can bring about breakthrough speed and breakout swims. And last week in the IU Natatorium, that’s exactly what happened.

In the men’s 500 freestyle, Denison’s George Goins blazed his way from the 9th place finisher in 2025 to national champion in 2026, in a personal best time of 4:22.30. Similarly, Kenyon’s Molly Haag blasted back from the 9th place 500 freestyle finalist in 2025, to the women’s national champion in 2026, in a best time of 4:46.81.

In the women’s 400 IM, Kenyon’s Ashlyn Widmer burst from 11th place in 2025 to national champion in 2026, swimming a personal best of 4:20.61. In the Women’s 100 fly, Madeleine Kan, of Claremont McKenna-Harvey Mudd-Scripps Colleges, bettered her standing from 12th place in 2025 to national champion in 2026, in a personal best of 53.57.

Bringing swimmers back for ‘B’ finals offers opportunities to make adjustments, fix mistakes and be better than their morning swims. ‘B’ finals are beneficial for experiencing the emotion and energy of a night swim, when the building is filled with that buzz in the air. ‘B’ finals can be boisterous, with the voice of the announcer booming through the noise, as the crowd goes wild.

More 2025 ‘B’ finalists who bettered their standing in 2026:

Men’s 500 Free:

• Luke Fender, Trinity, 13th to 7th, 4:27.77
• Steven Bendoraitis, TCNJ, 12th to 8th, 4:28.35

Men’s 200 IM:

• Marco Minai, Wash U, 11th to 4th, 1:46.18 (PB)
• McKee Thorsen, Emory, 9th to 8th, 1:49.36

Women’s 200 IM:

• Allison Greeneway, Emory, 9th to 6th, 2:02.42

Women’s 50 Free

• Anna McGrew, Middlebury, 10th to 4th, 22.98
• Braelyn Wilson, Keane University, 13th to 5th, 23.23

Men’s 50 Free:

• Nick Hensel, Denison, 10th to 5th, 19.92

Men’s 200 Free:

• Jack Goepfrich, Amherst, 16th to 7th, 1:37.78

Women’s 200 Free:

• Emery Muller, NYU, 15th to 4th, 1:49.63 (PB)
• Natalie Boorjian, Emory, 13th to 7th, 1:51.26

Men’s 100 Fly:

• Noah Reice, Coast Guard 11th to 4th, 47.40
• Ethan Bonow, Asbury, 14th to 5th, 47.74

Women’s 400 IM:

• Tess Boyer, Wheaton (IL), 13th to 5th, 4:22.26
• Madeleine Dunn, Tufts, 16th to 8th, 4:25.01 (PB)

Women’s 200 Fly:

• Sun Young Byun, Claremont McKenna-Harvey Mudd-Scripps Colleges, 16th to 2nd, 2:00.15 (PB)
• Elodie Mitchell, Emory, 10th to 4th, 2:00.79

Men’s 100 Back:

• Charles Platt, Calvin, 9th to 3rd, 46.68 (PB)

Women’s 100 Back:

• Penny Celtniecks, Emory, 12th to 2nd, 54.29 (PB)
• Jasmine Park, Denison, 15th to 6th, 55.04

Men’s 100 Breast:

• Liam Nelson, Denison, 11th to 6th, 53.81 (PB)

Women’s 100 Breast:

• Alicia Soosai, Chicago, 13th to 3rd (tie), 1:02.02 (PB)
• Riley Tofflemire, Denison, 14th to 7th, 1:02.66
• Kellen Mottl, Colby, 15th to 8th, 1:03.10

Women’s 100 Free:

• Greta Gidley, Hope, 14th to 5th, 50.05
• Caitlin Crysel, Emory, 15th to 8th, 50.86

Men’s 100 Free:

• Nick Hensel, Denison, 10th to 5th, 43.50 (PB)
• Charles Platt, Calvin, 14th to 6th, 43.90
• Jacob Dzurica, Saint Vincent, 16th to 7th, 44:01

Men’s 200 Back:

• Tim Johnson, Bates, 12th to 5th, 1:45.22 (PB)

Women’s 200 Breast:

• Sarah Palmer, Bates, 10th to 6th, 2:17.50
• Carter Roebuck, Williams, 9th to 5th, Williams, 2:16.44

In the end, the ‘B’ final can be more than a second swim. It can be a chance to believe in something bigger. Now, with this season behind us, I can’t help but wonder, who will be back in 2027? Who will be better? Who will break through the barrier from ‘B’ to ‘A’? I can’t wait to be there, ready to see what’s to be, or not to be.