Women's Swimming & Diving

Eagles Finish a Perfect 3-0 at Eastern Michigan Classic

Saturday, Oct. 17 Swim & Dive Results
Akron Zips vs. Zips Classic
Eastern Michigan 274.00, Aquinas 84.00
Eastern Michigan 257.00, Wayne State 106.00
Eastern Michigan 217.5, Toledo 144.5
Toledo 299.00, Aquinas 61.00
Toledo 256.00, Wayne State 113.00
Buffalo 216.00, Niagara 78.00
Buffalo vs. Cornell, Not Scored
 
Recaps courtesy of Athletic Communications Departments

Akron Zips
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron swimming and diving team turned in several standout performances at the 2026 Akron Zips Classic, highlighted by a pair of record breaking performances by Felicia Klintemar and a third meet record from Leah Nebraska.

Competing Friday and Saturday at Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium, the Zips collected multiple top-three finishes in the pool and on the diving boards to finish second in the women's team standings with 1,019.5 points. Ohio State won the team title with 1,541.5 points.

Klintemar opened the meet in record-setting fashion Friday, winning the 200-yard individual medley in 1:58.28 to establish a new Zips Classic meet record. Klintemar remained one of Akron's top performers Saturday, winning the 100-yard butterfly in 52.13 and the 200-yard butterfly in 1:58.22. Her 100-yard butterfly time set another meet record, while her 200-yard butterfly performance added a second individual victory to her weekend.Nebraska's record-setting victory came in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the wall first in 22.37.

Avery Knight finished third in 2:01.91 in the 200 IM and Brie Trumpower tied for sixth in 23.00 in the 50 Free, while Cora Spetz placed eighth in 23.04.

Akron's 400-yard medley relay team of Knight, Claire Cox, Klintemar and Helena Lalkovic finished second in 3:33.63, while another Zips quartet placed fourth in 3:38.56.

Akron continued its strong showing in the distance events, with Lalkovic finishing seventh in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:51.46. Beth Abad Nunez placed ninth in 4:56.82, Emma Rosenbaum was 11th in 5:02.33 and Ava Withey finished 14th in 5:03.10. The Zips also took second in the 800-yard freestyle relay, as Klintemar, Lalkovic, Spetz and Trumpower combined for a time of 7:15.40.

Knight delivered a strong backstroke performance, winning the 100-yard backstroke in 52.91 and the 200-yard backstroke in 1:56.04. Nebraska and Lalkovic also placed among the top four in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing third in 49.15 and fourth in 49.40, respectively. Cox added third-place finishes in both the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.19) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:14.53).

Akron's relay squads continued to score important points. The Zips' 200-yard freestyle relay team of Nebraska, Klintemar, Spetz and Trumpower finished second in 1:30.09, while the 200-yard medley relay team placed second in 1:38.14. Akron also finished second in the 400-yard medley relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Akron's divers contributed across both boards. On one-meter, Lydia Redd led the Zips with a fifth-place score of 257.20, followed by Audrey Probe in sixth with 244.10 and Sophia Stamm in seventh with 231.00. On three-meter, Keratile Manaka placed fifth with 261.50, Probe was sixth with 261.15 and Annie Haluch finished seventh with 245.35.

The Zips finished the meet with 1,019.5 points to place second behind Ohio State. Xavier finished third with 333 points, followed by Cleveland State with 288.5, Denison with 266.5 and Youngstown State with 213.

Akron's record-setting swims, individual event victories and consistent scoring across the swimming and diving events highlighted a productive two-day performance at the Zips Classic.

UP NEXT: The Zips will be back in action at the Magnus Cup Invitational Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 19-21 hosted by Cleveland State University.


Eastern Michigan Eagles
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University swim and dive program opened the 2026-27 season in dominant fashion Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17 at Jones Natatorium, sweeping all three dual meets at the Eastern Classic to move to 3-0 overall.

Eastern Michigan defeated the University of Toledo 217.5-144.5, Wayne State University 257-106, and Aquinas College 274-84, breaking a school record and 10 meet records across the two-day event, along with four additional program top 10 times.

How it Happened: Swim
The Eagles set the tone immediately. The quartet of Gabia Gelumbickas, Nina LaRosa, Tristen Mina, and Abbey Clarke opened the meet with a meet-record 3:40.60 in the 400-yard medley relay, posting splits of 54.28 (back), 1:00.41 (breast), 55.74 (fly), and 50.17 (free). The same core group later combined for a meet-record 1:40.56 in the 200-yard medley relay.

Gelumbickas was the meet's most decorated individual swimmer, winning four events. The first-year standout claimed the 50-yard freestyle in a meet-record 22.95—a time that ranks fourth in program history—and won the 100-yard backstroke in 54.49, a mark that also ranks in the program's all-time top 10 at No. 6. Marlee Christie finished third in the 50-yard freestyle (23.43) and second in the 100-yard backstroke (57.69), while Lucy Noble was fourth in both the 50-yard freestyle (23.44) and 100-yard freestyle (51.67). Clarke placed second in the 100-yard butterfly (55.34) and third in the 100-yard freestyle (51.62).

Nina LaRosa swept both breaststroke events, winning the 100-yard breaststroke in a meet-record 1:00.54 and the 200-yard breaststroke in a meet-record 2:16.88. Her 100-yard breaststroke time moves her to second all-time in program history, behind only Delaney Duncan's 57.83, and her 200-yard breaststroke improves her No. 9 time in the program ranks.

First-year Emma Jönsson placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.28) and third in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:22.46) in her collegiate debut, also finishing fifth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:10.40).

Mina won the 200-yard individual medley (2:07.43) and the 100-yard butterfly (55.23). Marianna Fardella was the meet's most versatile performer, winning the 200 yard freestyle in a meet-record 1:50.60, the 200 yard backstroke (2:01.94), and the 1650 yard freestyle (17:20.84), while placing second in the 500 yard freestyle (5:00.52).

EMU's relay units were dominant throughout. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Gelumbickas, Christie, Clarke, and Noble set both a meet record and an EMU school record at 1:31.29, with all four legs clocking sub-23 seconds.

Clarke, Gelumbickas, Emma Littrell, and Noble then combined for a meet-record 3:23.79 in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The 800-yard freestyle relay team of Littrell, Amelia Jones, Fardella, and Noble placed third in 7:45.10, with Fardella posting the fastest individual leg at 1:52.66.

How it Happened: Dive
The Eastern divers swept the top four places in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events. Rose Kendrick won both boards, posting a meet-record 270.45 on the 1-meter and a meet-record 263.00 on the 3-meter. Aisling Gutierrez placed second on the 1-meter (244.30) and third on the 3-meter (229.15). First-year Silvana Pomar placed third on the 1-meter (232.60) and second on the 3-meter (236.05, a meet record) in her collegiate debut. Meg Lupa was fourth on both boards — 225.90 on the 1-meter and 226.30 on the 3-meter.

Up Next: Eastern Michigan returns to action Friday-Saturday, Oct. 30-31, hosting the University at Buffalo in Ypsilanti, Mich. for a two-day dual meet.


Toledo Rockets
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Toledo women's swimming & diving team (2-1, 0-1 MAC) picked up two wins at the Eastern Classic on Saturday in Ypsilanti, Mich. The Rockets tallied a 256-113 win over Wayne State and posted a 299-61 victory over Aquinas (Mich.) while falling to host Eastern Michigan, 217.5-144.5.

Toledo opened up the 2026-27 season with 13 top-three finishes on Friday evening, and totaled 10 top-three finishes on the final day of competition, led by Rosie Richards with an individual title in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.09.

Rosie Richards led the way, winning two individual titles. Richards picked up first-place finishes in both the 200 free with a final mark of 1:50.60, breaking the meet record on the way. The senior also took first in the 500 free with a time of 4:57.19.

Maggie Spybrook won the 400 IM with a final time of 4:35.66 while freshman Defne Kocak made her collegiate debut, placing second in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.65) and taking third in the 200 IM (4:42.94).

The 800 freestyle relay team of Richards, Tumi Macdonell, Helena Pinto Coelho Lopes and Claire Kemmere won the event with a final mark of 7:37.98. In the 200 freestyle relay, Richards, Kenzie Robinson, Macdonell and Lopes placed second overall with a time of 1:35.02.

The 400 medley relay team of Kalyna Pyk, Kocak, Robinson and Lopes took third with a final time of 3:51.57.

Maggie Spybrook turned in two second-place finishes on the day. She tallied a time of 2:05.19 in the 200 backstroke and posted a mark of 2:07.46 in the 200 butterfly.

A pair of Rockets placed second and third in the 1650 freestyle, led by Lindsay Bright who took second with a time of 17:36.96 and followed by Claire Kemmere in third with a mark of 17:55.46.

The 200 medley relay team of Kenzie Robinson, Defne Kocak, Spybrook and Richards took second with a mark of 1:43.35. To close out the day, Richards, Helena Pinto Coelho Lopes, Tumi Macdonell and Robinson took second in the 400 freestyle relay with a final time of 3:29.26.

Up Next: Toledo will return to action on Friday, Nov. 6 to take on Miami and Northern Kentucky in Oxford, Ohio.


Buffalo Bulls  
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo swimming and diving program opened the 2026-2027 season in the Broadview Arena Natatorium, competing against the Cornell University Big Red and Niagara University Purple Eagles. The Bulls defeated Niagara, 216-78, to open the season with a win and advance to 38-7 all-time against the Purple Eagles. The competition against Cornell was not scored.
 
SWIMMING
The Bulls opened the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay. Elisabeth Breck, Pinar Donmez, Bella Forsman and Jillian Strine took first place with a time of 1:44.56. The Bulls also took second in the event, with Alice Bartola, Grace Rider, Maddy Schnelzer and Alex Bulat finishing in 1:45.29.

Kamilla Nemes ended her freshman campaign earning All-MAC Second Team honors and continued that momentum in the pool on Saturday. The sophomore won the opening 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:27.04. Nemes doubled back to finish second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:06.03 and second in the 100-yard individual medley (59.07).

Forsman was another All-MAC Second Team honoree a year ago. The junior opened her season with a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle and a time of 1:54.27. Bulat trailed closely to take third (1:54.49). Forsman later finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:06.22) and third in the 100-yard individual medley (59.39).

Grace Rider, Donmez and Ava Pauly were strong in the breaststroke events for the Bulls. The trio took the top three spots in the 50-yard breaststroke, with Rider in first (29.91), Donmez in second (29.97) and Pauly in third (30.06). Donmez later won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.58, followed closely by Rider (1:05.97) who earned second. Donmez also won the 100-yard individual medley with a time of 59.01.

Maddy Schnelzer placed second in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.29. The junior later earned fourth in the 100-yard backstroke (59.73) and fourth in the 50-yard butterfly (26.28).

Amanda Jurgelon and Strine earned top three placements in the 50-yard freestyle. Jurgelon placed second of 10 swimmers with a time of 24.35. Strine earned third with a time of 24.39. Jurgelon's time was just over second shy of her personal best in the event (23.25). In the 100-yard freestyle, it was Bulat who placed second (52.28), with Jurgelon in third (53.22) and Strine in fourth (53.28) to give the program three of the top four spots.

The Bulls got numerous contributions from their freshmen in the opening meet of the season. Breck was the Bulls' top finisher in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 26.43, finishing second. The Florida native doubled back to place second in the 100-yard backstroke too, posting a time of 57.96. Freshman teammate Alice Bartola placed third (58.13), followed by two juniors in Schnelzer (4th, 59.73) and Ericson (5th, 1:00.17) for the Bulls to earn four of the top five placements. Agata Puchala placed fourth in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:37.86. The Georgia native also finished fourth in the 100-yard butterfly (58.86). Alyssa Chambers earned a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.95) and Bridget Reilly took fifth (1:55.94), putting four Buffalo swimmers inside the top five to place. Reilly later finished fifth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:11.28, as Sophie Thornburg placed sixth (5:14.88) and Chambers finished eighth (5:19.75) to earn four of the top eight spots for the program.

The Bulls closed out the meet by taking first place in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Bulat, Chambers, Jurgelon and Strine earned first place with a time of 3:30.69. A team of Reilly, Puchala, Pauly and Thornburg also placed fourth in the event (3:39.68).
 
DIVING
Adele Melamud had a historic day in the diving well. The sophomore began by winning the three-meter event with a score of 338.70, a new personal best that ranks fifth in program history. Melamud followed the performance by winning the one-meter event too, posting a personal record score of 281.10. The performance entered the program record book at 10th. Melamud qualified for the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships in both the one and three meter with the performances.  

Maggie Meyers took second place in the three-meter for the Bulls with a score of 267.60. Sophie Meuwissen (5th, 237.60) added a top-five placement and Tristan Krajcarski finished sixth (229.50).

In the one-meter, the Bulls earned the top three spots. Meuwissen (257.33) took second to Melamud, with Krajcarski (238.65) earning third. Daphne Fox placed fifth with a score of 234.60 to put four Bulls inside the top five. Meyers rounded out the Buffalo divers in eighth (220.35).

UP NEXT: The Bulls will next compete on Friday, October 30th, and Saturday, October 31st, at Eastern Michigan.