Women's Swimming & Diving

Swim & Dive Prepare for 2026 MAC Championships this Weekend in Akron

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron will host the nine conference women’s swimming & diving teams at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium this week in the quest for the 2026 MAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship title. The four-day competition will begin on Wednesday evening and run through Saturday.

All information, including live stream, results, merchandise, and more, can be found at the MAC Swimming & Diving Championship Central page, here.

The University of Akron Athletics moved to digital ticketing in 2022. All-Session Passes are available for $75, while single-session tickets can be purchased for $16 and are available for purchase here.

Below are nine championship previews in the order of the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Previews courtesy of Athletic Communications Departments

Akron Zips
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron swimming and diving team will look to capture its fifth straight Mid-American Conference title and the 12th in the past 13 seasons.

All four days will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available on the Meet Mobile App.

Akron won the MAC Championships last season with 726.5 points. Ohio placed second with 637.5 points, while Miami placed third with 637.5 points.

Felicia Klintemar was named the MAC Freshman Swimmer of the Year last season, while Abigail Daniel was named the MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer and the MAC Most Outstanding Senior. Elle Couture, Rebecca Reid and Daniel earned All-MAC First Team honors while Klintemar, Ada Szwabinska, Aislinn Holder, Hannah Trainer, Dominika Kossakowska and Elizabeth Noble were named to the All-MAC Second Team.

Along with the Zips, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, UMass, Miami (OH), Ohio and Toledo will take part in the 2026 MAC Championships at Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium from Feb. 25-28.


Miami RedHawks
Miami Swimming & Diving travels to their championships this week, with the women's team heading to Akron, Ohio, for the MAC Championships and the men heading to Evansville, Ind., for the MVC Championships. 

Upcoming Events
Feb. 25 - Women's Swimming & Diving at MAC Championships (Akron, Ohio), All Day
Feb. 26 - Women's Swimming & Diving at MAC Championships (Akron, Ohio), All Day
Feb. 27 - Women's Swimming & Diving at MAC Championships (Akron, Ohio), All Day
Feb. 28 - Women's Swimming & Diving at MAC Championships (Akron, Ohio), All Day


Ohio Bobcats
Feb. 25-28 / at 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships / Akron, Ohio / Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium / Prelims: 10 a.m. ET/ Finals: 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Championship Central / Tickets 

The Ohio swim and dive team is set for the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships Feb. 25-28. This year's event is hosted by Akron at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio. Competition on Wednesday, Feb. 25, begins at 6 p.m. ET with the 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay. The Bobcats return to action on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. ET for prelims, with finals set to begin at 6 p.m. ET. The same schedule goes for Friday and Saturday's competition, with a champion to be crowned at Saturday night's finals. The Championship Award Ceremony is set to begin at 8:55 p.m. ET. Every session will be streamed on ESPN+. 

Ohio looks to improve on last year's second-place finish, in hopes to dethrone Akron as this year's Champion. Senior Casadie DiBetta and junior Zita Szoke look to defend their MAC Titles from a year ago. 

The Bobcats last competed as a full team Jan. 30-31 at Akron, with the Zips winning, 239-171. Junior Astrid Pichardo earned Diver of the Week honors for the second time this season for her efforts in Ohio's meet against Akron. Individually, Pichardo placed first in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. Pichardo left Akron with new personal records in both events, with a 1-m score of 297.45 and a 3m score of 327.15, and led the Bobcats' diving efforts over the weekend.


Buffalo Bulls
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo swimming and diving program is competing at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Swimming & Diving Championships, this Wednesday, February 25th, through Saturday, February 28th, on the University of Akron campus.

The Bulls enter the MAC Championships looking to earn their second conference championship in the 2020's decade. The Bulls last won the MAC in 2021 and have earned top-four placements every season since, including second-place finishes in 2022 and 2023.

The program had a strong 2025-2026 regular season, posting a 5-2 record in head-to-head matchups and a 2-2 record against conference opponents. The Bulls earned conference wins over Miami (OH) and Toledo, while falling to Ohio and Ball State. The team earned non-conference wins over Niagara, Marshall and Duquesne.

In the pool, the Bulls have three returning athletes who earned medals at last year's conference championships, including Bella Forsman, who was named MAC Freshman Swimmer of the Year. Forsman earned a silver medal in the 400-yard individual medley (4:16.60). Ava Cunningham earned a bronze medal in the women's 500-yard freestyle (4:51.83). Forsman and Abbey Gardner also helped the Bulls to a silver medal finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:13.42).

The freshman class also features competitive swimmers, three of whom joined the program's record book. Pinar Donmez set a new school record in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:13.98) and ranks third in program history in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.72), both times set at Akron. Hattie Wasmuth joined the 200-yard backstroke program rankings at Akron, too (1:59.82). Kamilla Nemes was the third freshman swimmer to join the program's all-time ranks, earning 10th in the 400-yard individual medley (4:21.99).

The Bulls have three divers returning who won medals at last year's championships in Presley Dorsett, Mallory Hanna and Sophie Meuwissen. Dorsett earned a silver medal in the three-meter dive (281.20). Meuwissen grabbed a bronze medal in the three-meter (269.05), and Hanna brought home bronze in the one-meter (256.90).

The Buffalo divers had a strong 2025-2026 as a team, winning 14 of the 16 events they competed in, with four different divers earning a first-place finish for the program. The team also won three MAC Diver of the Week awards, with freshman Adele Melamud being honored twice and Dorsett once. Melamud also joined the program's all-time top 10 in the three-meter dive, taking seventh with a score of 321.55.


Ball State Cardinals
MUNCIE, Ind. -- After months of preparation, the Ball State women's swimming & diving program will put all of its hard work to the test this week at Akron University's Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium for the 2026 Mid-American Conference Swimming & Diving Championships.

Action in the four-day meet begins Wednesday (Feb. 25) at 6 p.m. with 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. Individual competition gets underway Thursday (Feb. 27) and will run through Saturday (Feb. 28).

AT THE 2025 MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ball State tallied four medals, including three silvers and one gold, to earn a fifth-place finish among the eight-team field with 305.5 points. 

Payton Kelly was named first team All-MAC after earning her first-career gold medal in the 50 (22.23) freestyle, as well as silver placements in the 100 (48.82) and 200 (1:48.87) freestyles. 

Anna Keen and Alexa Von Holtz were awarded second-team All MAC, as Von Holtz captured silver in the 100 butterfly (1:58.52) while Keen swam two podium finishes and aided Ball State to four top five finishes in relay competition. 

2025-2026 PROGRAM RECORDS
While program records tend to come fast and furious at the MAC Championships, the Cardinals have already set seven program records this season.

At House of Champions (Nov. 20-22), the women's squad set brand new standards in four relay events and three individual. Payton Kelly earned program bests in the 100 back (52.86) and 100 freestyle (48.60), while Ava Butterfield swam a top individual time in the 200 back (1:57.93). In relay action, the Cardinals recorded program-leading performances in the 200 (1:30.78), 400 (3:20.28) and 800 (7:21.7) relays as well as the 400 medley relay (3:39.79). 

IN THE MAC RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA Division I Top Time Rankings as compiled by CollegeSwimming.com, the Cardinals have 13 student-athletes ranked in scoring position in their respective events heading into the MAC Championships.  


Eastern Michigan Eagles
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University swim and dive teams will compete at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships, hosted by the University of Akron, at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio, Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 25-28.

EMU at MACs
Eastern has captured two MAC crowns in its history, coming in consecutive seasons in 2006 and 2007, under former head coach Peter Linn.

The Eagles took home the 2006 MAC title, its first MAC Championship, besting second-place finisher, the University of Miami, by 11 points. Eastern ended the meet scoring 637.5 points with seven All-MAC honorees (two first team selections and five second team nods). Linn was named the MAC Swimming Coach of the Year while former diving coach Buck Smith was named Diving Coach of the Year. One of the most decorated swimmers in Eagles' history, Madeline Pilchard was tabbed Swimmer of the Year by the conference.

Pilchard raked in three individual MAC titles in the meet, winning the 100y freestyle (50.48), 200y freestyle (1:48.74), and 500y freestyle (4:51.99). She also swam the anchor leg of EMU's first-place 400y freestyle team, a race the Eagles swam in 3:24.97.

The Eagles repeated as champs in the 2007 season, scoring 665 points to edge second-place Ohio University (618 points) by a margin of 47 points inside Eastern's Jones Natatorium.

Pilchard won swimmer of the year for the second consecutive season and Sarah Chrzanowski earned the Diver of the Year Award with her first-place finish in the 1m dive (293.60 points). Eastern saw nine individuals named to All-MAC teams (four to first team and five to second team), while claiming gold in eight events throughout the meet.

Last time at MACs
The Eagles finished seventh as a team with 215 points at last year's MAC Championships, Feb. 26-March 1. They were highlighted by Megan Lupa, who earned MAC Freshman Diver of the Year, placing seventh in the 3m dive final with 255.75 points, and 15th in the 1m dive finals, scoring 226.95 points. On the fourth and final day of the meet, Eastern scored 73 points, making it their most successful day. The swimmers saw three program top 10 times on the third day of the championships, as Tristen Mina and Olivia Clarino teamed up to swim the No. 5 (54.59) and No. 7 (55.08) 100y butterfly program times, respectively, before Nina LaRosa improved her program top 10 100y breaststroke time from No. 8 to No. 7, as she placed ninth in the finals in 1:02.62.

EMU at MACs Under Perkins
Eastern's highest finish at the MAC Championships under Derek Perkins came in his first season when the Eagles placed third with 485 points. His Eagles placed fifth in the 2021-22 season (354 points), and finished sixth in 2020-21 (305 points), 2022-23 (302 points), and 2023-24 (273 points).
 
Last Time Out Highlights
The Eagles last competed against Ball State University inside Jones Natatorium, Jan. 24, resulting in a loss of 133.5 points to Ball State's 166.5 points. Eastern won three events in the pool, two of which came from LaRosa, as she swam the 100y breaststroke in 1:02.61 for first place, along with taking first in the 200y breaststroke in 2:20.02. The third event win came from Mina, as she took first place in the 100y butterfly with a time of 55.31. Mina was followed by Abbey Clarke, who finished in second place with a time of 56.43, and Nehir Guven, who earned third with a personal best time of 56.53 to sweep the race.

The divers swept both events, earning the top four scores in each. Rose Kendrick won both events with a personal best score of 280.88 points in the one-meter, and another personal best score of 295.13 points in the three-meter. Marnie Howard took second place in the one-meter with 236.78 points, followed by Taityn Speier, who earned third with 234.75 points, and Aisling Gutierrez, who scored 231.83 points to take fourth place. In the three-meter, Kendrick was followed by Speier with 252.15 points for second place, Gutierrez earned third with 249.83 points, and Howard closed the sweep with 231.75 points for fourth place.

Up Next
Qualified divers will move on to the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships, hosted by Eastern Michigan, inside Jones Natatorium, Monday-Wednesday, March 9-11. Select swimmers will compete at the CSCAA NICs, hosted by the CSCAA, in Ocala, Fla., Thursday-Saturday, March 12-14.


Massachusetts Minutewomen
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's swimming and diving prepares for the Mid-American Conference Championships on Wednesday, February 25 through Saturday, February 28, at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio.

The four-day event will mark the first time the program will compete against MAC opponents.

The Minutewomen finished the regular season with a 5-5 overall record , while also placing second at the Justin Jennings Invitational and fourth at the Terrier Invitational.

Cracking The Top 10
The women's team has seen nine Minutewomen earn top-10 program record times throughout the season. Both junior Ece Yildirim and sophomore Maria Grishaeva recorded top-10 times in two events. About The MAC Championships
The 2026 MAC Championships will be held at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio, on Wednesday, February 25 through Saturday, February 28, with the University of Akron as the host.

Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Ohio and Toledo will also be in attendance with UMass and Akron.


Bowling Green Falcons
AKRON, Ohio — The culmination of a historic season begins Wednesday night for the Bowling Green State University swim and dive team as it opens competition at the 2026 MAC Championships.

The Falcons, 13-3 overall and 3-1 in conference duals, enter the four-day meet at Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium following one of the most successful regular seasons in program history. Bowling Green will look to convert season-best times and diving depth into a climb up the team standings.

Competition begins Wednesday at 6 p.m. Preliminary sessions are scheduled for 10 a.m. each day, followed by finals nightly through Saturday.

Bowling Green opened the season with a program-best 10-0 start and maintained that consistency throughout the winter. The Falcons closed the regular season with a dominant sweep of rival University of Toledo in the Battle of I-75, winning every event in the opening session and recording nine personal records across sprint and mid-distance races.

Individually, Emily McNicol leads the backstroke group with times that rank among the conference's top entries, while Samia Becdach has provided scoring punch in the sprint freestyle events and on relays. Morgan Sokol has emerged as a contributor in the distance freestyle races, and Maddie Bond has added versatility in the individual medley and breaststroke.

Lauren Jablonski strengthens the breaststroke events with consistent performances that bolster the Falcons' depth, while Grace Bodrock and Karina Solera remain key factors in the butterfly, each posting CSCAA B-cut performances this season.

On the boards, Natalia Mayorga anchors a diving unit that has supplied critical points throughout the winter, giving Bowling Green scoring potential beyond the pool.

The Falcons return to the conference meet after a sixth-place finish last season, their best showing since 2022, and believe they are positioned to challenge that mark. Traditional contenders such as the University of Akron, Ohio, and Miami present stiff competition, but Bowling Green's regular-season trajectory suggests a team capable of consistent scoring.


Toledo Rockets
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's swimming & diving team is set to compete in the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championship on Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 25-28 in Akron, Ohio. The event will begin on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. with the 200 medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay. All preliminary and final sessions will be streamed on ESPN+.

Senior Janne Slegers is leading the Rockets this season, earning 19 top-three finishes throughout the entire season. Sophomore Rosie Richards has tallied 11 top-three finishes while junior Leah Evans has 10.

Last time out, UT tallied 21 top-three finishes and four individual event titles against rival Bowling Green in the Battle of I-75 presented by Fremont Federal Credit Union. Slegers won the 100 free and anchored the 400 freestyle relay team as they won the event. Richards and Kenzie Myco also picked up first-place finishes in the 200 free and the 100 butterfly, respectively.