INDIANAPOLIS—The Great Midwest will kick off its seventh championship season  of swimming & diving in conjunction with the Mountain East Conference in 2023-24.
 
Both Findlay and Hillsdale women each have three Great Midwest titles a piece, with the Oilers claiming the crown during the 2022-23 season. Findlay returns Emily Mears-Bentley, who made an immediate impact for the Oilers during her freshman campaign. Mears-Bentley claimed both the Athlete of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors to conclude the 2022-23 season. She led the Oilers to their third program championship and took home the gold in seven different events. She then went on to earn three All-American accolades at the NCAA championship. In addition to Mears-Bentley, Findlay returns 10 first team all-conference selections under first year head coach Diego Santos.
 
Hillsdale finished second at the conference meet as All-Americans Megan Clifford and Elise Mason return for head coach Kurt Kirner. Clifford finished seventh in the 200 butterfly and Mason earned an 11^th place finish in the 1,650 freestyle at last year’s national meet.
 
Ashland placed third and returns the Great Midwest Diver of the Year and Diver of the Meet Maddi Whitticar, who won conference titles in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving.
 
On the men’s side Findlay will look to win their seventh consecutive conference title. The Oilers are ranked seventh in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) preseason poll, released on October 13. Seven All-American athletes return for coach Santos including Dags Bregis, Luca Chiandussi, Zein Kawas, Rander Keener, Camilo Marrugo, Marko Priedniks, and Tim Stollings.  At the 2023 national meet, the Oilers made a historic run, finishing seventh in the nation, the highest finish in G-MAC history.
 
Ashland finished second with a score of 1,121 and Malone placed seventh. Joey Lenczyk, Great Midwest Diver of the Year and first-team selection, returns for the Eagles.
 
Ashland and Malone opened up the season last weekend at the Oberlin Early Bird Invitational. Both Ashland men and women finished third at the event, while Malone men finished fifth and the women earned a sixth place finish.
 
Hillsdale had a dominant performance to open up the season last weekend, sweeping all four opponents at the Bethel Quad.
 
Findlay will host Ashland this weekend in their first meet of the season.
 
The 2023-2024 Great Midwest/Mountain East Swimming and Diving Championship will be held in Canton, Ohio at C.T. Branin Natatorium, February 14-17.