Ohio Swim and Dive Set for 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships

FOLLOW OHIO SWIMMING & DIVING: Twitter | Instagram

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Ohio swim and dive staff are set for the 2026 Mid-American Conference Chapionships Feb. 25-28. This yr’s occasion is hosted by Akron on the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio. Competition on Wednesday, Feb. 25 begins at 6 p.m. ET with 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay. The Bobcats return to motion on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. ET for prelims, with finals set to start at 6 p.m. ET. The similar schedule goes for Friday and Saturday’s competitors, with a champion to be topped at Saturday evening’s finals. The Championship Award Ceremony is about to start at 8:55 p.m. ET. Every session will likely be streamed on ESPN+. 

Ohio appears to enhance on final yr’s second-place end, in hopes to dethrone Akron as this yr’s Champion. Senior Casadie DiBetta (St. Clairsville, Ohio) and junior Zita Szoke (Serbia, Becej) look to defend their MAC Titles from a yr in the past. At least yr’s championships in Buffalo, DiBetta was MAC Champion within the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes with occasions of 59.81 and a pair of:10.99 and within the 200-yard medley relay. She grew to become the college file holder within the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke in addition to 200- and 400-yard medley relay and was named First Team All-MAC. 

Szoke appears to defend her titles within the MAC 50-, 100-, 200-yard freestyles and 200-yard medley relay. She additionally a member of the 400-yard medley relay in addition to the 400- and 200-yard freestyle relays that each one positioned second. Szoke can also be seeking to break her personal faculty data within the 50-,100-, and 200 yard free in addition to the 400- and 800- yard freestyle relays and 200- and 400- medley relays. Szoke was was additionally a First Team All-MAC Selection. 

Other All-MAC alternatives returning to the pool for the 2026 Championships are Emily Ellsworth (Westerville, Ohio) and Morgan Brown (Fort Wayne, Ind.), who earned first and second staff recognition, respectively. Head coach Mason Norman can also be the reigning MAC Coach of the Year. 

The Bobcats want to seize their first MAC Championship since 2011, whereas additionally seeking to dethrone host Akron, who has received four-straight MAC Titles. 

The Bobcats final competed as a full staff Jan. 30-31 at Akron, with the Zips profitable, 239-171. Junior Astrid Pichardo (Guanajuato, Mexico) earned Diver of the Week honors for the second time this season for her efforts in Ohio’s meet towards Akron. Individually, Pichardo positioned first in each the 1-meter and 3-meter diving occasions. Pichardo left Akron with new private data in each occasions, with a 1-m rating of 297.45 and a 3m rating of 327.15, and led the Bobcats’ diving efforts over the weekend.

All data, together with dwell stream, outcomes, merchandise, and extra, may be discovered on the MAC Swimming & Diving Championship Central web page, here.

All-Session Passes can be found for $75, whereas single-session tickets may be bought for $16 and can be found for buy here.

#OUohyeah