CCIW Men’s Swimming & Diving Pocket book (Jan. 28, 2026

NAPERVILLE — As January offers option to February, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin males’s (CCIW) swimming and diving season has reached the purpose the place performances start to hold added that means. Final residence meets, senior recognitions, and final main tune-ups are shaping not solely convention leaderboards, but additionally momentum heading into the championship section of the calendar. 
 
From Wheaton’s commanding displaying at its residence invitational to Augustana’s headline-grabbing particular person efforts, the convention continues to stack high quality performances because the street narrows towards Pleasant Prairie.
 
Thunder and Lightning: Wheaton’s Dominant Home Finale
Wheaton delivered one among its most full group efforts of the season on the Thunder Invitational, closing out its residence schedule on the Jonathan Lederhouse Natatorium with a convincing first-place end. Competing final Friday and Saturday, the Thunder amassed 536 factors, ending comfortably forward of Augustana (445) and North Central (55). The meet additionally doubled as Senior Day, honoring a 10-member senior class that performed a central function within the weekend’s success.
 
Veteran management confirmed all through the lineup. Sam Yonan captured the 50-yard backstroke in a season-best 25.68, whereas Ben Coley continued to claim himself as one of many convention’s premier sprinters. Coley gained two particular person occasions and posted a CCIW-leading 23.48 within the 50-yard butterfly, reinforcing his standing as a title contender in a number of championship races.
 
The invitational additionally marked the season debut of senior diver Mateo Anderson, whose return instantly altered the convention panorama. Anderson, the CCIW Diving Student-Athlete of the Week, produced a 345.80 on the 1-meter board and a 313.55 on the 3-meter, each of which rank second within the CCIW this season.
 
Junior Jac Cummings gained the 100-yard particular person medley in 53.64, a time that sits second within the convention, whereas sophomore Jed Ritchie turned in a season-best 4:12.33 within the 400 IM, ending second on the meet and third within the CCIW rankings.
 
Vikings on the Verge: Leslie’s Record-Breaking Saturday
Augustana made probably the most of its alternatives throughout the Thunder Invitational, notably on the second day of competitors. Despite solely collaborating in a portion of the general occasion schedule, the Vikings produced a number of standout performances, led by a historic effort from CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week Tyler Leslie.
 
Leslie shattered the Augustana college report within the 400-yard particular person medley, touching in 4:04.02. The swim now stands because the quickest time within the CCIW this season and positions Leslie squarely among the many convention’s high championship contenders. He adopted that efficiency with a victory within the 100-yard breaststroke, successful in 59.36.
 
Augustana’s pace was evident all through the freestyle occasions. Emanuel Anguelov claimed the 50-yard freestyle in 21.51, whereas Mark Addison managed the 500-yard freestyle with a successful time of 4:38.67. Lukas Rettig added one other dash victory by taking the 100-yard freestyle in 48.22.
 
Relay depth additionally surfaced, because the Vikings positioned second within the blended 200-yard freestyle relay. Oskar Bannister, Kendle Mihm, Rettig and Sophia Warren mixed for a 1:31.43 effort.
 
Firebirds Unleashed: A Scorching Performance in Appleton
While consideration centered on Illinois, Carthage delivered probably the most decisive outcomes of the weekend in Appleton, Wis.. Competing at Lawrence on Friday, the Firebirds rolled to a 170-14 victory.
 
The meet opened with a win within the 200-yard medley relay, as AJ Landorf, Tyson Politsch, William Murray and Ian Glossa posted a 1:40.55. Landorf later doubled up individually, successful the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.00) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:08.52).
 
Carthage’s particular person highlights spanned practically each self-discipline. Trey Halas captured the 1,000-yard freestyle in 11:15.84 and the 100-yard backstroke in 56.99. Adam Hollis gained the 50-yard freestyle in 22.87, whereas Andrew Laborevitch took the 100-yard butterfly in 56.28. In diving, Devon Kuhn continued his robust season with a 328.05 on the 1-meter board.
 
Road Warriors and Senior Celebrations: Millikin, NCC and IWU
Millikin confronted a difficult street twin at Monmouth final Friday. Despite a 90-73 group loss, the Big Blue produced a number of vibrant spots. Dawson Loafman led the way in which with victories within the 100-yard backstroke (57.64) and the 200-yard IM (2:12.14), whereas Gavin Dobson added runner-up finishes within the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard freestyle. Millikin was initially slated to compete on the Thunder Invitational however withdrew attributable to weather-related journey points.
 
North Central used the Thunder Invitational as each a aggressive alternative and a senior celebration. Griffin Laurin recorded a season-best 26.98 within the 50-yard butterfly and dropped greater than a second and a half within the 200-yard butterfly to complete second. Clark Wilson additionally made important progress, bettering by 1.36 seconds within the 50-yard backstroke (29.93).
 
Illinois Wesleyan competed in a demanding tri-meet on Saturday in opposition to Wabash and Valparaiso. Tate Thomas positioned fourth within the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:34.24) and third within the 500-yard freestyle (5:08.81), whereas Jay Jenkins completed among the many high 5 within the 50-yard freestyle with a 23.11.
 
The Statistical Summit: Conference Leaders Heading into February
As February approaches, the CCIW leaderboard displays a mix of established veterans and rising contenders. Augustana’s Bjorn Sievert stays atop the 50-yard freestyle standings together with his 20.94 from November. Wheaton’s Ben Coley leads each the 100-yard freestyle (45.74) and 200-yard freestyle (1:39.88), whereas teammate Isaac Eilmes controls the space occasions with conference-best occasions within the 1,000 (9:56.18) and 1,650 (16:12.25).
 
In the specialty occasions, Jac Cummings leads the 100-yard backstroke at 50.93, Tyler Leslie tops the IM rankings in each the 200 (1:52.83) and 400 (4:04.02), and Carthage’s Tyson Politsch owns the quickest occasions within the 100 (55.76) and 200 (2:05.77) breaststroke. Wheaton at present holds the highest marks in all 4 main relay occasions.
 
The Road to Pleasant Prairie: Upcoming Events
The closing stretch of the common season is now underway. Augustana will host Wheaton this Saturday for Senior Day, a meet formed by their latest one-two end on the Thunder Invitational. 
 
Carthage and Carroll flip their consideration to the Wisconsin Private College Championships starting Friday. 
 
Ultimately, the main focus shifts to Carthage and the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex, website of the CCIW Diving Championships (Feb. 13-14 in Kenosha) and the CCIW Swimming Championships (Feb. 18-21 in Pleasant Prairie).