No. 3 Indiana Eyes Fifth Consecutive Big Ten Title

MADISON, Wis. – Indiana males’s swimming and diving is as soon as once more the favourite to win on the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships this week (Feb. 25-28) contained in the Soderholm Family Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin.
 
The meet kicks off Wednesday (Feb. 25) at 5 p.m. ET with the 200-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relays earlier than three full days of motion Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Preliminaries will start every of the ultimate three days at 11 a.m. ET, organising for finals every night at 6 p.m. Fans can watch the meet through the B1G+ digital platform. 
 
Indiana is the highest-ranked group within the convention, holding regular at No. 3 within the CSCAA ballot since November. They will go up towards No. 11 Ohio State, No. 12 Michigan, No. 15 USC, No. 19 Northwestern, No. 24 Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State and Purdue.
 
IU captured its thirty first and fourth consecutive Big Ten title in 2025 with a 431-point hole forward of the sector – the biggest margin of victory in convention historical past. Over the four-day meet, the Hoosiers gained 11 Big Ten Championships, earned 26 medals, set three Big Ten data and 6 meet data. Then-junior Owen McDonald was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships after sweeping his particular person occasions: the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard IM.
 
McDonald and sophomore Miroslav Knedla each return after ending first and second, respectively in each the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke. Sophomore Raekwon Noel can add additional depth within the occasions, holding prime 5 occasions within the Big Ten in each distances in addition to the 100-yard butterfly.
 
Indiana will not be capable of replicate its unprecedented dominance within the breaststroke occasions final season – successful the highest 5 positions within the 100 breast and the highest 4 positions within the 200 breast – after dropping all six of the contributing swimmers to commencement, however there may be nonetheless lots to be excited for at “Breaststroke U.” Sophomore Alexei Avakov ranks No. 3 within the 100 breast this season with a 51.34, and freshmen Noah Cakir and Josh Bey every have prime 5 occasions within the 200 breast.
 
This 12 months, Indiana can assert its dominance within the distance occasions. Senior and two-time reigning NCAA 1,650 freestyle champion Zalán Sárkány owns the convention’s prime occasions in that occasion (14:23.85 – simply 2.56 off his Big Ten report time) and the five hundred free (4:09.57). IU owns the Big Ten’s three greatest occasions within the 1,650 free between Sárkány, sophomore Luke Whitlock (14:37.47) and freshman Luke Ellis (14:45.59). Whitlock additionally has the fourth-best 500 free (4:11.82) this season, behind Sárkány and classmate Aaron Shackell (4:11.14).
 
Despite graduating two nationwide champion divers in Quinn Henninger and Carson Tyler, the Hoosiers can nonetheless make a distinction within the effectively. Sophomore Joshua Sollenberger has been among the best springboard divers this season, and the 2024 NCAA runner-up on platform, senior Maxwell Weinrich, is the person to beat on the ultimate day.
 
Boasting high-performing expertise and depth, Indiana is the highest seed in 4 of the 5 relays. IU ranks No. 3 within the convention within the 800-yard freestyle relay, although its time (6:13.01) sits inside eight tenths of Ohio State’s mark (6:12.23).
 
MEET INFO
Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Saturday, Feb. 28 • 11 a.m. ET (prelims), 6 p.m. (finals)
Soderholm Family Aquatic Center • Madison, Wis.
Live Results (Swimming): https://bit.ly/4tzAROR/Meet Mobile (App)
Live Results (Diving): divemeets.com
Live Stream: B1G+
 
OF NOTE…
PODIUM WATCH – HOOSIERS WITH TOP FIVE MARKS IN BIG TEN
Alexei Avakov – 100 breast (51.34)
Josh Bey – 200 breast (1:52.51)
Noah Cakir – 200 breast (1:51.68)
Luke Ellis – 1,650 free (14:45.59)
Miroslav Knedla – 100 again (44.78), 200 again (1:39.91)
Mikkel Lee – 50 free (19.03), 100 free (41.96)
Owen McDonald – 100 again (44.13), 100 fly (44.68), 200 IM (1:40.90)
Raekwon Noel – 100 again (44.91), 200 again (1:40.63), 100 fly (45.28)
Zalán Sárkány – 500 free (4:09.57), 1,650 free (14:23.85), 400 IM (3:39.73)
Drew Smiley – 50 free (19.23), 100 free (41.59)
Joshua Sollenberger – 1-meter (367.00), 3-meter (422.60)
Aaron Shackell – 200 free (1:32.29), 500 free (4:11.14)
Maxwell Weinrich – 3-meter (406.10), platform (467.65)
Luke Whitlock – 500 free (4:11.82), 1,650 free (1:37.47)
 
BIG TEN MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
Indiana has gained 31 Big Ten Championships together with the final 4, seven of the final 9 and eight for the reason that starting of head swimming coach Ray Looze‘s tenure. The Hoosiers have additionally managed 15 consecutive prime three finishes going again to 2011.

IU athletes have mixed for 406 Big Ten Championships together with 236 swimming titles, 83 relay championships and 60 diving titles.

 

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