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 stunning 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? 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 pool. With live results available on Meet Mobile and Sidearm Stats, fans were treated to a thrilling competition that came down to the wire. And this is the part most people miss: the Kenyon women, trailing Denison by a mere three points heading into the final event, executed a masterful strategy that paid off big time.
Women’s Recap: Kenyon’s ‘A’ relay team found themselves behind Denison for the first half of the 400 free relay. Denison’s Olivia Morse kicked things off with a blistering 51.30 split, edging out Kenyon’s Molly Haag by a slim 0.05 seconds. But Kenyon had a trick up their sleeve. They strategically placed their two fastest swimmers, Kate Bogan and Lisa Torrecillas-Jouault, in the second half of the relay. Bogan’s 50.02 split on the third leg gave Kenyon the lead, and Torrecillas-Jouault sealed the deal with a jaw-dropping 49.27 anchor leg, securing the win in 3:21.71. Denison finished second in 3:23.21, leaving them just short of the title.
Torrecillas-Jouault wasn’t done making waves. Earlier in the evening, she claimed the individual 100 free title with a personal best of 50.46, bumping her up to #4 in Division III rankings. Haag also shone, winning the 1650 free in 16:40.29, completing a trifecta of victories after earlier wins in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Gwen Eisenbeis swept the backstroke events, clocking a lifetime best of 1:59.91 in the 200 back, while Kelsey Van Eldik narrowly edged out Denison’s Drue Thielking in the 200 breast with a time of 2:14.19.
Denison’s women put up a valiant fight, with Phoebe Ferguson winning the 100 IM in 57.21 and Emily Harris taking the 200 fly in 2:01.81. Harris, who holds the #3 NCAA time this season, showcased her versatility after winning the 400 IM the previous night.
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: The Denison men dominated the final day, starting with a 1-2 finish in the 1650 free. George Goins led the charge with a winning time of 15:24.75, followed by teammate Ben Campbell in 15:38.47. Jack Hill completed a hat-trick of individual wins, taking the 100 IM in 48.81 after earlier victories in the 200 IM and 200 free. 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, with Hensel posting the fastest split of 43.14.
Kenyon’s men also made their mark, with Djordje Dragojlovic winning the 100 free in 43.58, just shy of his season-best 43.13. Ethan Manske took the 200 fly in 1:48.41, while Wabash’s Ryan West and John Carroll’s Bart Kubis earned their first wins of the meet in the 200 back (1:46.42) and 200 breast (2:00.78), respectively. West’s time was a massive personal best, putting him under the Division III NCAA qualifying mark from the previous year.
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
About Anya Pelshaw: Anya has been a cornerstone of SwimSwam since June 2021, serving as both a writer and social media coordinator. She’s covered the Women’s NCAA Championships from 2022 to 2025, as well as the 2023 US Summer Nationals and the 2024 European Championships. Her insightful reporting and engaging content have made her a trusted voice in the swimming community.
Now, here’s the controversial question: Did Kenyon’s relay strategy border on risky, or was it a calculated move that showcased their confidence and teamwork? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
