INDIANAPOLIS—The Great Midwest will kick off its ninth championship season of men’s and women’s swimming & diving in conjunction with the Mountain East Conference in 2025-26.
 
For the women, Findlay has claimed five championship titles, including two under third-year head coach Diego Santos. Santos returns all-American Emily Mears-Bentley who led the Oilers to a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championship. The senior was a first-team all-American in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, and 400 freestyle relay. She added a pair of second-team all-American honors in the 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley. In addition to Mears-Bentley, Findlay returns all-conference student-athletes in Katie Susi, Sofia Lesmes Montes, Troie Grubbs, Olivia Scheibelhoffer, Macee Reckard, and 2025-26 co- Freshman of the Year Sophie Busby. Busby, during her collegiate debut, won the 400 individual medley and met the NCAA D2 B-cut standard in the 500y freestyle. Findlay’s ninth place finish at nationals was the highest in program history.
 
Hillsdale will look to reclaim the G-MAC title after winning three consecutive championships in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Co-Freshman of the Year Matilyn Wilhelmson returns for the Chargers after hitting B-cut times in the 500 freestyle, 1,000 freestyle, and 1,650 freestyle during her rookie season. Ella Schafer also returns for head coach Kirt Kirner claiming the 200 freestyle crown at the conference championship last season.
 
On the men’s side, Findlay will look to win their ninth consecutive conference title with six all-conference student-athletes set to return. Senior Randy Keener was voted Swimmer of the Year after earning second team all-America in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 freestyle relay, and 400 medley relay. He was the G-MAC champion in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, 400 medley relay, and the 100 & 200 backstroke. Keener is joined by Peter Helmuth, Matteo Filippi, Santiago Arteaga, David Schlor, and Leland Woeste as first team all-conference returners. 2024-25 Freshman of the Year Peter Helmuth swam a leg in the first-place 200 medley relay team while also adding a fourth-place finish in the 100 yard backstroke.
 
Ashland returns Divers of the Year in Riley Hunt and Joey Lenczyk. Hunt earned her first all-American honor by placing in a tie for 14^th in the women’s 3-meter diving event at nationals. Lenczyk qualified for nationals for the second consecutive season last year after another stellar performance at the conference meet.
 
Great Midwest swimming programs are set to begin the 2025-26 season on October 10.