Ocala, FL – The CSCAA National Invitational Championship, presented by TYR, exploded into action Thursday night at the FAST facility in Ocala, Florida, delivering record-breaking swims, dramatic finishes, and standout performances. Athletes representing more than 60 institutions wasted no time making their mark as the opening night of finals showcased elite speed and thrilling competition.
After the first evening of racing, Ohio State University’s women’s team leads the standings with 193 points. University of Kentucky sits in second with 175 points, followed closely by Fresno State with 165 points. Rounding out the top five are Queens University with 152 points and The University of Akron with 146.5 points.
On the men’s side, Queens University sits atop the leaderboard with 298.5 points, while Ohio State University holds second with 237.5 points. Grand Canyon University is currently in third with 197.5 points. Rounding out the top five are Duke University (147 points) and George Washington University (139 points).
Event Winners and Highlights
Women’s 200-Yard Freestyle Relay
The University of Akron kicked off the finals session in dominant fashion, capturing the title in the Women’s 200-Yard Freestyle Relay for the second consecutive year while setting a NIC record in 1:29.76. The quartet of Ada Szwabinska, Callie Parkes, Brie Trumpower, and Cora Spetz delivered the historic swim. Rice University finished second in 1:31.47, with Northern Colorado touching third in 1:31.89.
Men’s 200-Yard Freestyle Relay
Queens University of Charlotte continued its relay excellence, claiming gold for the second straight year in 1:17.88. The team of Nien Levy, Stamatis Paleocrassas, Pablo Ortega, and Daniel Meszaros narrowly held off Grand Canyon (1:18.11), while Ohio State (1:19.20) secured third.
Women’s 50-Yard Backstroke
Miami’s Leah Treglia surged to victory in the 50-yard backstroke, touching in 24.37. Toledo’s Leah Evans (24.74) and Fresno State’s Hayley Oke (24.86) completed the podium.
Men’s 50-Yard Backstroke
A razor-thin finish highlighted the men’s race as Grand Canyon’s Alex Volkov captured gold in 21.50. Just seven hundredths of a second separated the top two, with Kentucky’s Devin Naoroz finishing second in 21.57, followed by Queens’ Pablo Ortega (21.75).
Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle
Rice’s Ella Dyson powered to victory in the 500 freestyle, clocking 4:44.93. Kentucky’s Katy Jost (4:46.44) placed second, while Queens’ Leonie Tenzer (4:47.07) finished third.
Men’s 500-Yard Freestyle
One of the night’s biggest moments came in the men’s 500 freestyle, where Ohio State’s TJ Frost shattered the NIC record, winning decisively in 4:17.36. Queens’ Akos Horvath (4:24.97) and Duke’s Austin Simpson (4:25.27) rounded out the top three.
Women’s 50-Yard Butterfly
Denver’s Julia Saxman sprinted to gold in 23.69, while the battle for silver came down to the touch. Miami’s Isabelle Videment (23.82) edged Ball State’s Anna Keen (23.84) in a thrilling finish.
Men’s 50-Yard Butterfly
Another record fell in the men’s 50 butterfly, as Queens’ Emil Harlem blazed to victory in 20.74, setting a new NIC mark. Ohio State’s Austin Kickok (20.98) finished second, and Denver’s Hamish McLellan (21.11) claimed third.
Women’s 200-Yard Individual Medley
Ohio State’s Jessica Eden climbed to the top of the podium with a winning time of 1:59.07. Fresno State’s Ryley Clark (1:59.45) took silver, while Kentucky’s Hayden Penny (1:59.61) secured bronze.
Men’s 200-Yard Individual Medley
Raphael Vanhecke of the University of the Pacific captured the men’s 200 IM title in 1:45.65. Queens’ Matheus Teixeira Przewalla (1:46.17) finished second, just ahead of Ohio State’s Shmuel Vaisburg (1:46.34) in third.
Women’s 50-Yard Breaststroke
Fresno State’s Jenna Pulkkinen topped the field in 27.76, followed by Akron’s Ada Szwabinska (27.96) and Iowa State’s Grace Swoboda (28.08).
Men’s 50-Yard Breaststroke
The men’s race was one of the closest of the night as Kentucky’s Cayden Pitzer edged George Washington’s Alessandro Borsato by just two hundredths, winning in 24.16. Ball State’s Aidan Biddle (24.26) finished third.
Women’s 50-Yard Freestyle
In the “splash and dash,” Akron’s Ada Szwabinska claimed her second victory of the night, winning in 22.50. Ohio State’s Taya Hutchson (22.77) took second, while Tulane’s Eliza Lennox (22.81) finished third.
Men’s 50-Yard Freestyle
Grand Canyon’s Guillermo Carrey sprinted to victory in 19.70. Queens teammates Stamatis Paleocrassas (19.81) and Daniel Meszaros (19.85) completed the podium sweep for second and third.
Women’s 400-Yard Medley Relay
Ohio State University closed out the women’s events in commanding fashion as the quartet of Sienna Rodgers, Danika Varda, Lorin Tobler, and Taya Hutchison claimed the title with a time of 3:38.42. San José State University finished second in 3:39.72, while Queens University of Charlotte secured third place in 3:40.11.
Men’s 400-Yard Medley Relay
Queens University of Charlotte ended the night the same way it began — with a relay victory. The Royals’ squad of Pablo Ortega, Matheus Przewalla, Emil Harlem, and Daniel Meszaros powered to gold in record-breaking fashion, setting a new NIC record of 3:07.84. Grand Canyon University followed in second with a 3:08.42, while Ohio State University finished close behind in 3:08.59.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 CSCAA National Invitational Championship continues Friday with prelims beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET and finals at 6:00 p.m. ET.
For full results, live updates, and streaming information, visit NIC Meet Central.
Men’s Standings
- Queens – 298.5 points
- Ohio State – 237.5 points
- Grand Canyon – 197.5 points
- Duke – 147 points
- George Washington – 139 points
- Kentucky – 135.5 points
- Denver – 112 points
- Florida Atlantic – 107 points
- Towson – 103 points
- Pacific – 102 points
Women’s Standings
- Ohio State – 193 points
- Kentucky – 174 points
- Fresno State – 165 points
- Queens – 152 points
- Akron – 146.5 points
- Rice – 143 points
- Illinois – 121 points
- Duke – 118.5 points
- San Jose State – 110 points
- Northern Colorado – 100 points
