NCAA Division II Championships, Night 1: Tampa Sets 800 Free Relay Record
The NCAA Division II Championships are a slow burn, with just the 800 freestyle relay to start the meet Tuesday night, the first of five days at Evansville’s Deaconess Aquatic Center.
It was a record-setting start, with Tampa setting the NCAA record on the men’s side in a thrilling finish and Nova Southeastern claiming the fourth consecutive title in the women’s event.
The Sharks went 7:08.52, just .02 off the NCAA record set in 2024. The squad was Emilia Ronningdal, Zsofia Kurdi, Hailey Williams and Kristina Orban.
Orban, the reigning 200 free champ, recorded the fastest split of the meet in 1:45.74. Williams and Orban were on the winning team last year, while Ronningdal has been part of all four championships squads.
Second was Colorado Mesa, albeit more than five seconds back. Ada Qunell, the top seed in the 200 free, led off 1:48.61. Grand Valley was third in 7:14.24, with Tampa fourth in 7:15.49. Among the other team title contenders, Drury was fifth and Indy, in probably its weakest relay, was 10th.
Event 1 Women 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
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NCAA DII: N 7:08.50 3/12/2024 Nova S'eastern
E Ronningdal, R Raurich, M Lowy, E Trieschmann
Meet: M 7:08.50 3/12/2024 Nova S'eastern
E Ronningdal, R Raurich, M Lowy, E Trieschmann
7:27.03 DIIB 2026 Provisional
School Seed Finals Points
==================================================================================
1 Nova S'eastern 7:11.17 7:08.52 DIIB 40
1) Ronningdal, Emilia SR 2) r:0.37 Kurdi, Zsofia 5Y
3) r:0.38 Williams, Hailey SR 4) r:0.27 Orban, Kristina SO
r:+0.73 24.89 51.75 (51.75)
1:19.05 (1:19.05) 1:46.19 (1:46.19)
2:10.79 (24.60) 2:37.96 (51.77)
3:05.99 (1:19.80) 3:34.43 (1:48.24)
3:58.73 (24.30) 4:25.79 (51.36)
4:54.12 (1:19.69) 5:22.78 (1:48.35)
5:46.36 (23.58) 6:12.79 (50.01)
6:40.47 (1:17.69) 7:08.52 (1:45.74)
2 Colorado Mesa 7:13.47 7:13.88 DIIB 34
1) Qunell, Ada SR 2) r:0.38 Sasivarevic, Hanna JR
3) r:0.13 Wilkinson, Kendyll SO 4) r:0.49 Hansson, Olivia SR
r:+0.75 25.25 52.51 (52.51)
1:20.39 (1:20.39) 1:48.61 (1:48.61)
2:13.21 (24.60) 2:40.46 (51.85)
3:08.16 (1:19.55) 3:36.07 (1:47.46)
4:00.78 (24.71) 4:28.66 (52.59)
4:56.86 (1:20.79) 5:25.07 (1:49.00)
5:50.03 (24.96) 6:17.20 (52.13)
6:45.31 (1:20.24) 7:13.88 (1:48.81)
3 Grand Valley 7:22.05 7:14.24 DIIB 32
1) Hedley, Lucy SR 2) r:0.31 Proietti, Vittoria JR
3) r:0.27 Angilletta, Anglica SR 4) r:0.34 O'Connell, Katie SR
r:+0.75 24.83 51.57 (51.57)
1:19.18 (1:19.18) 1:46.57 (1:46.57)
2:11.11 (24.54) 2:38.31 (51.74)
3:06.30 (1:19.73) 3:34.73 (1:48.16)
3:58.86 (24.13) 4:26.26 (51.53)
4:54.92 (1:20.19) 5:24.69 (1:49.96)
5:49.75 (25.06) 6:17.62 (52.93)
6:46.03 (1:21.34) 7:14.24 (1:49.55)
4 Tampa 7:20.95 7:15.49 DIIB 30
1) Patrick, Mckenna SO 2) r:0.33 Louder, Lindsey JR
3) r:0.41 Hodgson, Laura JR 4) r:0.49 Frece, Avery SO
r:+0.73 25.18 52.66 (52.66)
1:20.46 (1:20.46) 1:48.49 (1:48.49)
2:13.36 (24.87) 2:41.11 (52.62)
3:08.68 (1:20.19) 3:36.38 (1:47.89)
4:01.86 (25.48) 4:29.36 (52.98)
4:57.65 (1:21.27) 5:25.68 (1:49.30)
5:50.41 (24.73) 6:18.32 (52.64)
6:46.99 (1:21.31) 7:15.49 (1:49.81)
5 Drury 7:20.58 7:16.18 DIIB 28
1) Morales, Maria SO 2) r:0.28 Maniko, Nikol SO
3) r:0.35 Bergum, Gwen JR 4) r:0.33 Moore, Ashlyn SR
r:+0.76 25.10 52.55 (52.55)
1:20.44 (1:20.44) 1:48.43 (1:48.43)
2:13.14 (24.71) 2:40.84 (52.41)
3:09.32 (1:20.89) 3:37.57 (1:49.14)
4:02.35 (24.78) 4:29.75 (52.18)
4:58.23 (1:20.66) 5:26.59 (1:49.02)
5:50.70 (24.11) 6:17.98 (51.39)
6:46.62 (1:20.03) 7:16.18 (1:49.59)
6 Simon Fraser 7:19.86 7:17.16 DIIB 26
1) Vetter, Delrae SR 2) r:0.12 Andrews, Abigail JR
3) r:0.46 Whitmore, Alyssa SR 4) r:0.56 Dreghici, Jessica FR
r:+0.72 25.47 53.41 (53.41)
1:22.10 (1:22.10) 1:51.30 (1:51.30)
2:15.84 (24.54) 2:43.16 (51.86)
3:10.82 (1:19.52) 3:39.30 (1:48.00)
4:03.53 (24.23) 4:30.76 (51.46)
4:59.44 (1:20.14) 5:28.88 (1:49.58)
5:53.83 (24.95) 6:21.47 (52.59)
6:49.34 (1:20.46) 7:17.16 (1:48.28)
7 Catawba 7:22.69 7:19.77 DIIB 24
1) Reckmann, Marit SR 2) r:0.29 Regina Pera dosanda FR
3) Gutenwik, Ella JR 4) r:0.33 Meinema, Danielle SR
r:+0.71 24.94 52.76 (52.76)
1:20.45 (1:20.45) 1:48.32 (1:48.32)
2:13.14 (24.82) 2:40.85 (52.53)
3:08.78 (1:20.46) 3:36.87 (1:48.55)
4:02.89 (26.02) 4:31.78 (54.91)
5:01.40 (1:24.53) 5:30.88 (1:54.01)
5:56.25 (25.37) 6:23.94 (53.06)
6:52.19 (1:21.31) 7:19.77 (1:48.89)
8 Wingate 7:25.04 7:21.11 DIIB 22
1) Azirovic, Nina SR 2) r:0.18 Ozolam, Elizabeaula SO
3) r:0.28 Serdar, Nisagul FR 4) r:0.38 Garcia, Giulianna SR
r:+0.73 25.27 52.69 (52.69)
1:21.28 (1:21.28) 1:50.19 (1:50.19)
2:14.65 (24.46) 2:41.73 (51.54)
3:10.08 (1:19.89) 3:39.19 (1:49.00)
4:04.04 (24.85) 4:31.82 (52.63)
5:00.60 (1:21.41) 5:29.92 (1:50.73)
5:55.22 (25.30) 6:23.22 (53.30)
6:51.85 (1:21.93) 7:21.11 (1:51.19)
Tampa won this relay for the third straight year. They were more than a second faster than last year’s record, going 6:16.64 with the team of Barnabas Fluck, Joshua Noll, Jacob Hamlin and Nicholas Cavic. Hamlin is the only holdover from last year’s record-setting team. He split 1:33.32 on the end, then Cavic went faster in 1:33.14. The record from 2025 NCAAs was 6:17.93.
It took all of that record to deny Drury in what may be a harbinger of a thrilling meet to come. Drury’s Lucas Minuer, Matteo Vissotti, Alvaro Zornoza Quiros and Joao Nogueira were also under the old record by more than a second in 6: 16.80. Minuer had Drury out front, and it was more than a second at the midway point. Hamlin pushed the Trojans to the lead on the third leg, and Cavic held off Nogueira, who split 1:32.85, at every wall to finish it off.
Colorado Mesa was third in 6:19.80. Indy was fourth, followed by McKendree.
Event 2 Men 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
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NCAA DII: N 6:17.93 3/11/2025 Tampa
C Brandon, P Knollman, J Hamlin, R Ponce De Leon
Meet: M 6:17.93 3/11/2025 Tampa
C Brandon, P Knollman, J Hamlin, R Ponce De Leon
6:33.68 DIIB 2026 Provisional
School Seed Finals Points
==================================================================================
1 Tampa 6:23.50 6:16.64NDIIB 40
1) Fluck, Barnabas SR 2) r:0.17 Noll, Joshua JR
3) r:0.46 Hamlin, Jacob JR 4) r:0.24 Cavic, Nicholas FR
r:+0.71 22.22 46.11 (46.11)
1:10.88 (1:10.88) 1:35.58 (1:35.58)
1:56.92 (21.34) 2:21.11 (45.53)
2:45.69 (1:10.11) 3:10.18 (1:34.60)
3:31.17 (20.99) 3:54.44 (44.26)
4:19.10 (1:08.92) 4:43.50 (1:33.32)
5:04.57 (21.07) 5:28.71 (45.21)
5:52.73 (1:09.23) 6:16.64 (1:33.14)
2 Drury 6:21.25 6:16.80NDIIB 34
1) Minuer, Lucas SR 2) r:0.40 Vissotto, Matteo JR
3) r:0.36 Zornoza Quiros,varo JR 4) r:0.26 Nogueira, Joao SR
r:+0.67 21.71 45.23 (45.23)
1:09.76 (1:09.76) 1:34.88 (1:34.88)
1:56.37 (21.49) 2:20.11 (45.23)
2:44.62 (1:09.74) 3:08.98 (1:34.10)
3:30.45 (21.47) 3:54.46 (45.48)
4:19.37 (1:10.39) 4:43.95 (1:34.97)
5:05.07 (21.12) 5:28.84 (44.89)
5:53.04 (1:09.09) 6:16.80 (1:32.85)
3 Colorado Mesa 6:22.63 6:19.80 DIIB 32
1) Guth, Guillaume JR 2) r:0.23 Vester, Ben SO
3) r:0.23 Schmiedefeld, Rhard SO 4) r:0.34 Friess, Jonas FR
r:+0.70 21.78 45.50 (45.50)
1:09.61 (1:09.61) 1:33.46 (1:33.46)
1:54.42 (20.96) 2:18.39 (44.93)
2:43.45 (1:09.99) 3:08.99 (1:35.53)
3:30.19 (21.20) 3:54.22 (45.23)
4:19.32 (1:10.33) 4:44.39 (1:35.40)
5:06.09 (21.70) 5:30.34 (45.95)
5:55.00 (1:10.61) 6:19.80 (1:35.41)
4 Indy 6:24.83 6:21.74 DIIB 30
1) Schmidt, Jan FR 2) r:0.41 Andoko, Harrison FR
3) r:0.24 Basten, Nico SO 4) r:0.32 Plaza, Swann SR
r:+0.67 22.18 46.51 (46.51)
1:11.29 (1:11.29) 1:35.92 (1:35.92)
1:57.31 (21.39) 2:21.19 (45.27)
2:46.41 (1:10.49) 3:12.37 (1:36.45)
3:33.55 (21.18) 3:57.43 (45.06)
4:22.20 (1:09.83) 4:47.10 (1:34.73)
5:08.77 (21.67) 5:32.83 (45.73)
5:57.49 (1:10.39) 6:21.74 (1:34.64)
5 McKendree 6:25.51 6:23.54 DIIB 28
1) Gavrysh, Volodymyr SO 2) r:0.26 Upton, Tyson JR
3) r:0.30 Rynkiewicz, Jakub SO 4) r:0.10 Brooks, Caden SR
r:+0.59 21.38 44.81 (44.81)
1:08.60 (1:08.60) 1:32.40 (1:32.40)
1:53.66 (21.26) 2:17.83 (45.43)
2:43.17 (1:10.77) 3:08.29 (1:35.89)
3:31.01 (22.72) 3:55.77 (47.48)
4:21.69 (1:13.40) 4:46.75 (1:38.46)
5:08.61 (21.86) 5:33.56 (46.81)
5:59.10 (1:12.35) 6:23.54 (1:36.79)
6 Wingate 6:23.56 6:23.57 DIIB 26
1) Sebbata, Yassine SO 2) r:0.20 Chemeryk, Tymofii SO
3) r:0.29 Thompson, Joel 5Y 4) r:0.31 Witzell, Anton JR
r:+0.70 21.76 45.79 (45.79)
1:09.81 (1:09.81) 1:35.02 (1:35.02)
1:56.31 (21.29) 2:19.94 (44.92)
2:44.96 (1:09.94) 3:11.07 (1:36.05)
3:32.61 (21.54) 3:56.84 (45.77)
4:21.76 (1:10.69) 4:47.44 (1:36.37)
5:09.18 (21.74) 5:33.59 (46.15)
5:59.00 (1:11.56) 6:23.57 (1:36.13)
7 Grand Valley 6:30.58 6:26.42 DIIB 24
1) Scotto Divetta, Evan SR 2) r:0.14 Gaebler, Matti FR
3) r:0.20 Rauch, Anton Zeno SO 4) r:0.19 Ferguson, Thomas JR
r:+0.68 22.37 46.46 (46.46)
1:11.57 (1:11.57) 1:36.78 (1:36.78)
1:58.46 (21.68) 2:22.94 (46.16)
2:48.00 (1:11.22) 3:13.58 (1:36.80)
3:35.34 (21.76) 3:59.93 (46.35)
4:25.30 (1:11.72) 4:51.21 (1:37.63)
5:12.62 (21.41) 5:36.62 (45.41)
6:01.26 (1:10.05) 6:26.42 (1:35.21)
8 Rollins 6:28.61 6:26.44 DIIB 22
1) Carter, Trey SR 2) r:0.18 Basinger, Seth JR
3) r:0.31 Dinges, Luke SR 4) r:0.19 Slowey, William SR
r:+0.69 21.97 46.24 (46.24)
1:11.28 (1:11.28) 1:36.86 (1:36.86)
1:58.01 (21.15) 2:21.98 (45.12)
2:47.24 (1:10.38) 3:12.95 (1:36.09)
3:34.91 (21.96) 3:59.58 (46.63)
4:24.14 (1:11.19) 4:49.86 (1:36.91)
5:11.32 (21.46) 5:36.44 (46.58)
6:01.73 (1:11.87) 6:26.44 (1:36.58)
