INDIANAPOLIS—The Great Midwest will kick off its eighth championship season of swimming & diving in conjunction with the Mountain East Conference in 2024-25. 
 
Findlay has four championship titles, claiming the crown the past two years. The Oilers return Emily Mears-Bentley, who took home the gold in seven events at the championship meet last season. The Leicester, England native went on to earn first team All-American honors in the 100 fly, 200 fly, 100 free, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay. Mears-Bentley and the Oilers had the highest team finish out of any G-MAC women’s program at the national meet last season, finishing 10^th overall. In addition to Mears-Bentley, head coach Diego Santos returns eight first team all-conference members this season. 
 
Hillsdale finished runner up in Canton last year and have three championship titles under their belt. Seniors Elise Mason and Megan Clifford are the top returners for the Chargers. Mason claimed her third straight G-MAC titles in the 500 free, 1,000 free, and 1,650 free events. Her times qualified for the NCAA Division II meet, where she went on to finish 36th, 22^nd, and 17^th, respectively. Clifford became just the second swimmer in Hillsdale program history to repeat as an NCAA DII All-American with a 13^th place finish in the 200 butterfly. Both Mason and Clifford will look to put Hillsdale back on top at the conference championship this season. 
 
Ashland divers Riley Hunt and Madeline Whitticar return for the Eagles after helping their team earn a third place finish. Hunt took home the gold in the 3-meter dive while Whitticar found herself atop the podium in the 1-meter dive. 
 
On the men’s side, Findlay will look to win their eighth consecutive conference title. The Oilers will look to replace all-American Tim Stollings, but return 9 all-conference members including the 2023-24 Freshman of the Year Santiago Arteaga. During his rookie season, Arteaga earned second team all-American honors as a member of the 400 free relay. At the conference meet, he placed first in the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays. 
 
Ashland placed third overall, led by all-conference diver Joe Lenczyk. Lenczyk won the 1-meter and 3-meter dives at the championship meet while also qualifying for the national meet. 
 
Malone and Hillsdale opened up the 2024-25 season with victories over their respective opponents. 
 
The 2024-25 Great Midwest/Mountain East Swimming & Diving Championship will be held in Canton, Ohio at C.T. Branin Natatorium, February 12-15.