OCALA, Fla. — The CSCAA National Invitational Championship, presented by TYR, wrapped up Saturday night at the FAST facility in Ocala, Florida, with Kentucky capturing the women’s team title and Queens claiming the men’s championship.
A strong final day propelled Kentucky to the women’s team title with 553 points. Rice finished second with 500.5 points, led by NIC Women’s Athlete of the Year Ella Dyson, who swept the distance freestyle events, winning the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyles. After leading the Owls to an impressive showing, Rice head coach Seth Huston was named NIC Women’s Coach of the Year. Ohio State rounded out the top three with 496 points.
On the men’s side, Queens captured the NIC championship with 818.5 points after finishing second a year ago. The Royals won seven individual events on their way to the team title. Queens head coach Jeff Dugdale was named NIC Men’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Ohio State finished second with 746.5 points, led by NIC Male Athlete of the Year TJ Frost, who set two NIC records while winning the 400 IM, 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, and 1650 freestyle. Grand Canyon finished third with 631 points.
Event Winners
Women’s 1000 Freestyle
Ella Dyson (Rice) captured gold in the women’s 1000 freestyle with a dominant swim of 9:52.82.
Podium
Ella Dyson, Rice — 9:52.82
Leonie Tenzer, Queens — 9:54.47
Talya Erdogan, George Washington — 9:57.80
Men’s 1000 Freestyle
TJ Frost (Ohio State) continued his outstanding meet, earning his third individual gold medal with a time of 9:07.70.
Podium
TJ Frost, Ohio State — 9:07.70
Christian Davidson, Towson — 9:12.20
Yonatan Ahdut, NJIT — 9:14.16
Women’s 1650 Freestyle
Ella Dyson (Rice) completed the distance sweep, winning the 1650 freestyle in 16:15.25.
Podium
Ella Dyson, Rice — 16:15.25
Leonie Tenzer, Queens — 16:22.21
Katy Jost, Kentucky — 16:26.84
Men’s 1650 Freestyle
The podium mirrored the 1000 freestyle as TJ Frost (Ohio State) secured gold in 15:08.45.
Podium
TJ Frost, Ohio State — 15:08.45
Christian Davidson, Towson — 15:13.80
Yonatan Ahdut, NJIT — 15:16.79
Women’s 100 IM
Anna Keen (Ball State) set a NIC RECORD while winning the women’s 100 IM in 54.35.
Podium
Anna Keen, Ball State — 54.35 (NIC RECORD)
Abigail Zboran, Queens — 54.82
Bella Zhang, Rice — 55.15
Men’s 100 IM
After winning the 100 breaststroke Friday, Mason Francis (Ohio State) returned to the podium with a thrilling victory in 48.43, edging Cayden Pitzer (Kentucky) by two hundredths.
Podium
Mason Francis, Ohio State — 48.43
Cayden Pitzer, Kentucky — 48.45
Matheus Teixeira Przewalla, Queens — 48.62
Women’s 200 Backstroke
Duke swept the podium in the women’s 200 backstroke as Molly Donlan captured gold in 1:54.65, followed by teammates Alexa Conner and Kate Meyers-Labenz.
Podium
Molly Donlan, Duke — 1:54.65
Alexa Conner, Duke — 1:54.76
Kate Meyers-Labenz, Duke — 1:56.09
Men’s 200 Backstroke
Another NIC RECORD fell as Krys Gorski (Ohio State) won the men’s 200 backstroke in 1:41.58. Teammate Joseph Roth also reached the podium.
Podium
Krys Gorski, Ohio State — 1:41.58 (NIC RECORD)
Jacob Hills, Duke — 1:42.96
Joseph Roth, Ohio State — 1:42.98
Women’s 100 Freestyle
Eliza Lennox (Tulane) narrowly touched first in the women’s 100 freestyle with a time of 49.28.
Podium
Eliza Lennox, Tulane — 49.28
Helena Lakovic, Akron — 49.31
Ada Szwabinska, Akron — 49.58
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Daniel Meszaros (Queens) claimed his second individual gold of the meet, winning the 100 freestyle in 43.13.
Podium
Daniel Meszaros, Queens — 43.13
Zach Redding, Old Dominion — 43.15
Nate Rasmussen, Pacific — 43.29
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Danika Varda (Ohio State) captured gold in record-breaking fashion, winning the 200 breaststroke in 2:09.47.
Podium
Danika Varda, Ohio State — 2:09.47 (NIC RECORD)
Sarah Shaffer, Kentucky — 2:10.27
Melissa Cowen, Vanderbilt — 2:12.04
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
Carter Dooling (Grand Canyon) surged to victory in 1:55.55 after placing third in the 100 breaststroke the previous night.
Podium
Carter Dooling, Grand Canyon — 1:55.55
Jack Smith, Duke — 1:56.39
Brendan Ryan, Seattle — 1:56.78
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Jessica Eden (Ohio State) added another gold medal to her impressive meet with a winning time of 1:57.74.
Podium
Jessica Eden, Ohio State — 1:57.74
Ellyson Lombardi, Northern Colorado — 1:57.88
Paula Martinez, Grand Canyon — 1:59.13
Men’s 200 Butterfly
Quinn Cynor (Youngstown State) claimed gold in 1:45.83, finishing just six hundredths ahead of Mario Perez (Grand Canyon).
Podium
Quinn Cynor, Youngstown State — 1:45.83
Mario Perez, Grand Canyon — 1:45.89
Heitor Napolitano Fonseca Reis, George Washington — 1:46.68
Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay
Akron defended its title in the 400 freestyle relay as Helena Lakovic, Callie Parkes, Cora Spetz, and Hannah Trainer combined for 3:17.66.
Podium
Akron — 3:17.66
Queens — 3:19.62
Rice — 3:19.82
Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay
Queens closed the meet with a championship statement, winning the final event as Daniel Meszaros, Stamatis Paleocrassas, TJ Spokas, and Nien Levy posted a time of 2:53.26.
Podium
Queens — 2:53.26
Ohio State — 2:53.91
Grand Canyon — 2:54.04
Men’s Standings
- Queens – 818.5 points
- Ohio State – 746.5 points
- Grand Canyon – 631 points
- Duke – 529 points
- George Washington – 440 points
- Towson – 371 points
- Youngstown State – 351.5 points
- Florida Atlantic – 323 points
- Denver – 303.5 points
- Kentucky – 297.5 points
Women’s Standings
- Kentucky – 553 points
- Rice – 500.5 points
- Ohio State – 496 points
- Akron – 463 points
- Queens – 432 points
- Duke – 357.5 points
- Illinois – 330 points
- Northern Colorado – 306.5 points
- Fresno State – 302 points
- Arkansas – 281.5 points
Men’s Awards
NIC Athlete of the Year: TJ Frost, Ohio State
NIC Coach of the Year: Jeff Dugdale, Queens
Women’s Awards
NIC Athlete of the Year: Ella Dyson, Rice
NIC Coach of the Year: Seth Huston, Rice
