Hold onto your swim caps, because the 2026 NCAC Championships delivered a nail-biter of a finish that will have swimming fans talking for years! In a thrilling comeback, the Kenyon College women's team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final 400-yard freestyle relay, while the Denison University men successfully defended their title. But here's where it gets controversial: was Kenyon's strategic relay lineup a stroke of genius or a risky gamble that could've backfired? Let's dive into the details and you decide.
The North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Championships, held from February 10-14, 2026, in Granville, Ohio, showcased the best of collegiate swimming in a 25-yard short course format. With live results available on Meet Mobile and Sidearm Stats, fans were treated to a front-row seat as records fell and rivalries intensified. And this is the part most people miss: the women's competition came down to the wire, with Kenyon trailing Denison by a mere three points heading into the final event.
Women's Recap: A Comeback for the Ages
The Kenyon women didn't just face a points deficit; their 'A' relay team was also behind Denison for the first half of the 400 free relay. Denison's Olivia Morse set the pace with a 51.30 lead-off, but Kenyon's Molly Haag wasn't far behind at 51.35. Gwen Eisenbeis took the second leg for Kenyon, yet they still trailed at the halfway mark. Here's where Kenyon's strategy paid off: they saved their two fastest swimmers, Kate Bogan and Lisa Torrecillas-Jouault, for the back half. Bogan's 50.02 split gave Kenyon the lead, and Torrecillas-Jouault's blistering 49.27 anchor leg secured the win in 3:21.71, edging out Denison's 3:23.21.
Torrecillas-Jouault wasn't done making waves; she also claimed the individual 100 free title with a personal best of 50.46, moving her up to #4 in Division III rankings. Haag dominated the 1650 free with a 16:40.29, completing a clean sweep of the 200, 500, and 1650 freestyles. Eisenbeis, fresh off her 100 back win, completed the backstroke double with a 1:59.91 in the 200 back, a massive lifetime best. Kelsey Van Eldik added to Kenyon's tally with a narrow win in the 200 breast, touching in 2:14.19.
Denison's women fought valiantly, with Phoebe Ferguson winning the 100 IM in 57.21 and Emily Harris taking the 200 fly in 2:01.81. Harris, who won the 400 IM the previous night, has been as fast as 2:00.95 this season, ranking her #3 in the NCAA.
Final Women's Scores:
1. Kenyon College — 1944
2. Denison University — 1853
3. DePauw University — 1377.5
4. John Carroll University — 1037
5. College of Wooster — 991
6. Oberlin College — 681
7. Wittenberg University — 579.5
Men's Recap: Denison's Dominance Continues
The Denison men left no doubt about their supremacy, opening the final night with a 1-2 finish in the 1650 free. George Goins won in 15:24.75, 24 seconds ahead of teammate Ben Campbell. Goins' season-best 15:20.72 ranks him #2 in Division III. Jack Hill completed a hat-trick of individual wins, taking the 100 IM in 48.81, adding to his 200 IM and 200 free titles. Denison's 400 free relay team of Hill, Nick Hensel, Cam Blevins-Mohr, and Harry Parsons closed the meet with a win in 2:54.42, Hensel leading the way with a 43.14 split.
Kenyon's men also shone, with Djordje Dragojlovic winning the 100 free in 43.58, his second individual title after the 50 free. Ethan Manske took the 200 fly in 1:48.41, just off his lifetime best of 1:47.32. Wabash's Ryan West and John Carroll's Bart Kubis made history with their first NCAC wins: West in the 200 back (1:46.42) and Kubis in the 200 breast (2:00.78), a significant achievement for John Carroll in their first NCAC season.
Final Men's Scores:
1. Denison University — 1958.5
2. Kenyon College — 1741.5
3. John Carroll University — 1192.5
4. DePauw University — 1095
5. Wabash College — 1030
6. College of Wooster — 789.5
7. Oberlin College — 786
8. Ohio Wesleyan University — 450
9. Wittenberg University — 173
Food for Thought: Was Kenyon's relay strategy a calculated risk or a lucky break? And with John Carroll's emergence, is the NCAC landscape shifting? Share your thoughts in the comments—let's keep the debate alive!
