Get ready for an epic comeback story! The Kenyon women's team pulled off an incredible feat at the 2026 NCAC Championships, leaving everyone in awe. But here's where it gets controversial... they were trailing their rivals, Denison, by a slim margin going into the final relay. Would they be able to turn it around? Let's dive into the thrilling details.
The NCAC Championship, held in Granville, Ohio, from February 10th to 14th, 2026, witnessed a nail-biting finish on the women's side. Kenyon, despite being behind, showed incredible resilience and strategic prowess. Their 'A' relay team, consisting of Molly Haag, Gwen Eisenbeis, Kate Bogan, and Lisa Torrecillas-Jouault, executed a perfect plan. With their two fastest swimmers taking the latter legs, they stormed back to take the lead and ultimately win the 400 free relay, securing the NCAC title.
Torrecillas-Jouault, who also won the individual 100 free earlier, anchored the relay with a stunning 49.27 split. Her performance was a personal best, moving her up to the #4 spot in D3 this season. Bogan, who split a remarkable 50.02 on the third leg, was instrumental in giving Kenyon the edge they needed.
Haag, another standout performer, didn't just contribute to the relay win; she also claimed individual glory in the 1650 free, leading a 1-2 finish with her teammate, Nora Lee Brown. With this win, Haag achieved a remarkable three-for-three record at the meet, having already won the 200 and 500 freestyles.
Eisenbeis, who won the 100 back the previous night with a lifetime best, continued her dominance in the backstroke events. She touched the wall first in the 200 backstroke, posting an impressive 1:59.91, a huge improvement on her previous best of 2:00.44.
Kenyon's Kelsey Van Eldik narrowly secured a win in the 200 breast, touching in at 2:14.19, just ahead of Denison's Drue Thielking. Van Eldik led the race from start to finish.
On the men's side, Denison defended their title with a dominant performance on the final day. George Goins and Ben Campbell took the top two spots in the 1650 free, with Goins posting an impressive 15:24.75. Denison's Jack Hill, who had already won the 200 IM and 200 free earlier in the week, completed his hat-trick by winning the 100 IM with a time of 48.81.
Hill, along with his teammates Nick Hensel, Cam Blevins-Mohr, and Harry Parsons, closed the meet with a victory in the 400 free relay, touching in at 2:54.42. Hensel had the fastest split with a 43.14.
The Kenyon men also had a successful night, with Djordje Dragojlovic claiming his second individual win of the meet in the 100 free, clocking a time of 43.58. Ethan Manske, a Kenyon senior, swam to a win in the 200 fly with a time of 1:48.41.
Ryan West, a sophomore from Wabash, achieved a huge lifetime best in the 200 backstroke, touching in at 1:46.42. This performance was a significant improvement on his previous best time of 1:47.56.
Bart Kubis from John Carroll University made history by winning the 200 breast in 2:00.78. This was a remarkable achievement for John Carroll, as they are new to the NCAC this season, having previously competed in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).
In the final scores, Denison University emerged as the champions on the men's side with 1958.5 points, while Kenyon College took the women's title with 1944 points. DePauw University, John Carroll University, and the College of Wooster rounded out the top five in both the men's and women's competitions.
And this is the part most people miss... the impact of these championships extends beyond the pool. These athletes, with their dedication and hard work, inspire and motivate us all. Their stories of resilience, teamwork, and individual excellence remind us of the power of sports and the incredible journeys these athletes undertake.
So, what do you think? Are you inspired by these swimmers' achievements? Do you have a favorite moment from the NCAC Championships? Feel free to share your thoughts and let's celebrate these incredible athletes together!
