NCAA Division II Champs (Preview): Nova Southeastern and UIndy Searching for Title Repeats
Final season was the primary in Division II since 2014 that Queens College of Charlotte didn’t sweep the ladies’s and males’s nationwide titles in swimming and diving, with the Royals having begun the transition to Division I. The groups that took benefit of that opening had been the Nova Southeastern girls and the Indy males, with each squads claiming their first-ever nationwide titles.
These two groups will each be on the hunt for repeat performances this yr, as they return lots of their predominant items from 2023. The championships will run from March 12-16.
Meet invite lists and psych sheets
Reside Outcomes
Courtesy: Joe Hausman, Nova Southeastern College Athletics
The Nova girls, coached by Ben Hewitt, deliver again multi-time particular person nationwide champions Emily Trieschmann and Emilia Ronningdal. As a sophomore, Trieschmann was the nationwide champion within the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle whereas setting a nationwide file within the 40-lap race, and Ronningdal received the 200 IM and 200 free. Each swam on Nova’s title-winning 800 free relay, which additionally brings again Ilaria Murzilli and Could Lowy, and every swimmer anchored a successful medley relay (Trieschmann the 200, Ronningdal the 400).
Nova loses breaststroke standout Savanna Greatest, however brings again a 400 IM title-winner in Lowy, whereas backstroker Mollie Morfelt, who led off each top-finishing medley relays, can also be the highest returning swimmer within the 100 again.
The highest threats to Nova’s title embrace Drury, which loses 200 again champion Alexandra Waller, however could have Aurora Duncan—the 2023 nationwide runner-up in each particular person medley occasions plus the 200 fly—main the way in which together with multi-time A-finalist Claire Conover and Mellie Wijk. Colorado Mesa has IMer Sophia Bains, backstroker Katerina Matoskova and breaststroker Maddie Moran as main contenders.
Indy, in the meantime, graduates main sprinter Johanna Buys in addition to 100 again nationwide champion Katie McCoy, however Leticia Vaselli returns to guide the defending-champion dash freestyle relays together with Andrea Paaske. Different previous champions returning embrace diver Luna Castellanos, who swept 1-meter and 3-meter final season for Clarion, in addition to 2022 100 fly winner Luna Mertins of Lynn.
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Photograph Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
On the boys’s facet, Indy Coach Brent Noble welcomes again Cedric Buessing to assist lead the Greyhounds’ title protection. Buessing received the nationwide title within the 1000 free final season earlier than taking second in each the 400 IM (the place he’s the highest returning performer) and 1650 free, dropping an thrilling race on a livid last-lap dash from Grand Valley’s Eric Hieber. Main sprinter Jeron Thompson is again at Indy for a fifth season, whereas diver Julio Osuna hopes to keep up his dominance after scoring the highest spot in 1-meter and 3-meter in 2023.
Drury, the closest staff to Indy final season, loses key contributors Dominik Karacic and Andrew Rodriguez, however will return Brazilian standouts Davi Mourao and Joao Nogueira. Mourao was the 100 breast nationwide champion final season and fifth-place finisher within the 200 breast whereas Noguiera positioned fourth within the 400 IM and fifth within the 500 free a yr in the past. Alejandro Vilarejo certified for the 200 fly closing as a freshman and will make a leap this yr.
McKendree doesn’t return star Gregg Lichinsky from a third-place roster final yr, however Jackson Lustig is again after swimming a national-record mark of 1:40.75 within the 200 fly. Moreover, McKendree received three relays in 2023 and brings again eight of the 12 legs from these relays, with Lichinsky representing three of the 4 departed. Lustig, Arthur Souza, Leo Gandaria-Hernandez, Alireza Yavari, Patryk Rozenek and Filipe Pinheiro are returning relay standouts.
A rising staff from Tampa is led by Santiago Corredor, who received the nationwide title within the 400 IM whereas ending second within the 200 again and third within the 200 IM in his first season with the Spartans. Barnabus Fluck, Parker Knollman and Caleb Brandon are all returners who performed key roles final yr. Colorado Mesa’s Ben Sampson returns to defend his 2023 nationwide crowns within the 200 IM and 200 again, as do Henderson State’s Lamar Taylor within the dash freestyle races and Nova Southeastern’s Thomas Flower within the 200 free.
