2027 College Swimming Previews: #12 Ohio State Women Primed For Big Season With Solely One Main Loss

It’s that point of the 12 months once more. SwimSwam shall be previewing the highest 12 males’s and ladies’s groups (after which some) from the 2026 NCAA Championships. Follow together with the College Swimming Preview Channel. Want to learn much more? Check out the newest version of the SwimSwam journal.

Women’s #12: Ohio State Buckeyes

Key Losses: Lena Hentschel (13 NCAA factors — diving)

Key Additions: HM Anna Shnowske (VA — free/fly), Morgan Lukinac (Brown switch — dash free), Chloe Cappola (GA — again), Macie McCarter (NC — again/IM), Sarah Juiris (IL — dash free)

Grading Criteria

Over the years, we’ve gone backwards and forwards on find out how to venture factors, starting from largely subjective rankings to extra data-based grading standards based mostly on ‘projected returning points.’ We like being as goal as potential, however we’re going to stay with the method we’ve adopted post-Covid. The “stars” will rely closely on what swimmers really did final 12 months, however we’ll additionally give credit score to returning swimmers or freshmen who’ve posted instances that will have scored final 12 months.

Since we solely profile the highest 12 groups on this format, our grades are designed with that vary in thoughts. In the grand scheme of faculty swimming and in comparison with all different faculty applications, prime 12 NCAA applications would just about all grade nicely throughout the board. But within the curiosity of creating these previews informative, our grading scale is hard – designed to indicate the tiers between the great stroke teams, the good ones, and the 2015 Texas fly group sorts.

• 5 star (★★★★★) – a uncommon, elite NCAA group projected to attain 25+ factors per occasion
• 4 star (★★★★) – a really, excellent NCAA group projected to attain 15-24 factors per occasion
• 3 star (★★★) – a very good NCAA group projected to attain 5-14 factors per occasion
• 2 star (★★) – a strong NCAA group projected to attain 1-4 factors per occasion
• 1 star (★) –  an NCAA group that’s projected to attain no factors per occasion, although that doesn’t imply it’s with out potential scorers – they’ll simply have to leapfrog some swimmers forward of them to do it

We’ll grade every occasion self-discipline: dash free (which we outline to incorporate all of the relay-distance freestyle occasions, so 50, 100 and 200), distance free, IM, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and diving. Use these grades as a jumping-off level for dialogue, quite than a motive to be offended.

Also, remember that we’re publishing many of those previews earlier than groups have posted finalized rosters. We’re making our assessments based mostly on one of the best info we have now out there on the time of publication, however we reserve the proper to make modifications after publication based mostly on any new info that will emerge relating to rosters. If that does occur, we’ll make sure to notice the change.

The remaining be aware is that we aren’t together with athletes who graduated final spring after exhausting their faculty eligibility regardless of ongoing lawsuits in opposition to the NCAA relating to the brand new “Five-for-Five” rule.

2025-26 Lookback

The Ohio State Buckeyes moved again into the highest 12 on the NCAA Championships in 2026 after ending 14th on the 2025 Championships. In 2026, they scored 87 factors to return in 16.5 factors forward of Wisconsin and rack up 20 extra factors than the 66 they scored in 2025.

A big portion of the Ohio State NCAA group was made up of underclassmen final 12 months with a robust sophomore class simply persevering with to enhance whereas in faculty. Four of their 5 particular person level scorers got here from the sophomore class. Senior diver Lena Hentschel was the one athlete within the prime 5 who was not a sophomore, and she or he scored 13 factors on the 2026 NCAA Championships with a seventh place end on the 3-meter board and a sixteenth place end on the 1-meter board.

Mila Nikanorov scored 14 factors, probably the most on the meet for the Buckeyes, together with her fifth place end within the 1650 free. Maria Ramos Najji scored 13 factors after ending sixth within the 100 breast, and diver Mia Prusiecki scored 12 factors with a seventh place end on the platform.

Their remaining particular person scorer on the meet was Emma Finlin, who scored 9 factors together with her ninth place end within the mile.

They additionally scored factors in three of the 5 relays, ending twelfth within the 400 free relay, thirteenth within the 800 free relay, and thirteenth within the 200 medley relay.

At the Big Ten Championships, they completed third, scoring 1066 factors to return in slightly below 20 factors behind Indiana, who scored 1084.5 for 2nd. This was a drop from 2025, once they received the meet by about 60 factors over Indiana.

They had a couple of seniors rating factors at Big Tens, however sophomore Rachel Bockrath was the best particular person level scorer on the meet for Ohio State after she introduced in 81 factors for a 4th place end within the 50 free, a 2nd place end within the 100 free, and a third place end within the 200 free.

Hentschel (71 factors), sophomore Sienna Angove (70 factors), Nikanorov (60 factors) and Finlin (56 factors) additionally scored greater than 50 factors on the Big Ten Championships.

Sprint Free: ★★

Ohio State didn’t rating any factors on the NCAA Championships within the dash freestyle occasions final 12 months, however sprinter Rachel Bockrath set a couple of private greatest instances on the Big Ten Championships that will have scored at NCAAs if she had matched them.

Her lifetime greatest within the 50 free sits at 21.78, which might have been simply exterior scoring place in twenty first at NCAAs. She completed twenty ninth. In the 100 free, her lifetime better of 47.01, which was 2nd on the Big Ten Championships, would have been tenth general. She completed nineteenth at 47.61. Finally, within the 200 free, she swam 1:42.82 on the Big Ten Championships, which might have additionally been tenth general. She was thirtieth in 1:44.51.

Last 12 months was her first time swimming particular person occasions at NCAAs, so with extra expertise below her belt this 12 months, she may get nearer to her bests to attain dash free factors.

Ohio State is especially robust within the distance free occasions, which we’ll get to in a second, however a couple of of their distance swimmers drop to the 200 free. Sienna Angove completed seventeenth within the 200 free prelims at NCAAs, stopping the clock in 1:43.56. They additionally had Erin Little end thirty third (1:45.04). Both might discover some velocity this 12 months to drop into the scoring vary, significantly Angove who was only one spot out of scoring final 12 months.

The Buckeyes additionally added Brown switch Morgan Lukinac to their roster. She has two years of eligibility with the Buckeyes and certified for NCAAs final 12 months after she received the 100 free on the Ivy League Championships in 48.29 and the 200 free in 1:44.20. It took 47.46 to attain within the 100 free and 1:43.46 to attain within the 200 free. She sits somewhat exterior in each occasions, however might work her means into the ‘B’ remaining.

Honorable Mention recruit for 2026, Anna Shnowske is coming in with a lifetime better of 1:46.12 within the 200 free, and will drop into NCAA qualification vary and even scoring vary as a freshman.

Distance Free: ★★★ ½

The distance group that introduced in 23 factors final 12 months is not going to lose a single member and will add to their whole in 2027.

Mila Nikanorov was their highest particular person level scorer in 2026 and all 14 of her particular person factors got here within the 1650 freestyle. She swam 15:46.48 to take fifth place general. This was a slight add from the 15:46.19 she swam to complete 2nd on the Big Ten Championships.

Nikanorov completed forty eighth within the 500 free at 4:45.56, which was an eight second add from her lifetime better of 4:36.38, which might have been sixth general on the meet. Nikanorov didn’t get again to that mark final season, swimming a season greatest 4:36.97 on the Ohio State vs Michigan meet in January when she set the ninth quickest 1000 freestyle in historical past.

Her largest problem shall be matching her greatest instances at NCAAs, however she shall be a heavy ‘A’ remaining favourite within the 1650 free regardless.

Emma Finlin was the opposite level scorer at NCAAs, racking up 9 factors for her ninth place end within the 1650. She stopped the clock in 15:55.22, which was virtually six seconds off her better of 15:49.51 from the Big Ten Championships, which might have been seventh. This was a large enchancment from the 16:11.23 she swam on the 2025 meet, and if she will match her greatest in 2027, we may very well be taking a look at a top-eight end for her.

Sienna Angove additionally swam the five hundred free at NCAAs, however she completed twenty first in 4:40.65. This was a 3 second add from the 4:37.44 she swam on the Big Ten Championships which might have been ninth at NCAAs.

Finally, rising sophomore Adair Shaw swam the five hundred and 1650 free at NCAAs. In the five hundred, she completed thirty ninth in 4:44.46 . This was a 4 second add from the 4:40.84 she swam on the Ohio State Invite in November, which might have nonetheless sat exterior the 4:39.19 it took to attain within the occasion.

In the 1650, nevertheless, Shaw has a lifetime better of 16:04.64, which she swam at Big Tens to complete 4th. This swim would have been twelfth at NCAAs, choosing up one other 5 factors for the Buckeyes, however she ended up ending thirty sixth in 16:31.01. This was her first ever NCAA Championship season, and somewhat expertise below her belt may be capable to assist her enhance her efficiency this 12 months, and we might see three Ohio State athletes rating within the occasion.

Backstroke: ★

Backstroke is considered one of Ohio State’s weakest occasions. They didn’t have any athletes rating within the backstroke occasions on the NCAA Championships, and they didn’t have anybody ‘A’ remaining on the Big Ten Championships in both backstroke occasions.

KK LeBlanc leads the group after she certified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman final season. She ended up ending forty seventh within the 100 again (53.05) and thirty seventh within the 200 again (1:55.07) with each swims being fairly far off her lifetime bests of 52.10 and 1:52.78 from the Big Ten Championships.

Her lifetime bests nonetheless put her simply exterior scoring place, however she has the potential to see some drops this 12 months which might enhance her standings at NCAAs, particularly with somewhat extra expertise below her belt.

Delia Lloyd, who was a sophomore final 12 months, is one other returning backstroker for this system. She scored in each backstroke occasions on the Big Ten Championships, ending sixteenth within the 100 (53.86) and twelfth within the 200 (1:55.22), although she was off her season greatest instances from the Ohio State Invite. Her lifetime bests within the occasion of 51.74 and 1:53.63 from the 2025 Big Ten Championships would put her in potential NCAA qualifying vary this 12 months if she will match them once more in 2027.

Incoming freshman Chloe Cappola is one other potential Big Ten scorer, coming in with lifetime bests of 54.21 and 1:58.59 from November of 2025. She might want to drop a couple of seconds in each if she desires to earn an NCAA invite, nevertheless.

Breaststroke: ★★★

Ohio State will return 13 factors from the 2026 NCAA Championships, all 13 coming from Maria Ramos Najji‘s sixth place end within the 100 breast.

She swam 57.99 at NCAAs after setting a private greatest 57.95 in prelims. This was a large enchancment from her freshman 12 months, when she barely cracked 1:00, swimming 59.97 on the Ohio State Invite in November of 2024. Another enchancment this 12 months would make her a possible medal risk within the occasion.

She will not be fairly as robust within the 200 breast, swimming 2:09.61 at NCAAs to complete twenty sixth, about two seconds off her greatest of two:07.82 from the 2025 Ohio State Invite. If she will replicate this swim on the 2027 NCAA Championships, she can be a scoring risk on this as nicely, doubtlessly within the ‘A’ remaining.

Najji was their solely swimmer below 1:00 within the 100 breaststroke, however within the 200 breaststroke, Danika Varda swam 2:09.47 on the CSCAA National Invitational, which was lower than a second off the 2026 Invite time of two:08.77.

Butterfly: ★ ½

While Ohio State didn’t rating any NCAA factors in butterfly final 12 months, that is the place their honorable point out recruit, Anna Shnowske, actually comes into the equation.

The quickest 100 butterflyer on Ohio State’s roster final season was freshman Carrie Furbee. She swam 52.19 on the 2026 Big Ten Championships to complete ninth general and lock up her spot because the butterflyer on the medley relays at NCAAs.

At the meet, she ended up swimming 52.64 to complete fortieth, however even her greatest time would have fallen somewhat wanting the 51.33 it took to attain in 2026.

The subsequent quickest 100 butterflyer was fellow freshman Lorin Tobler who swam 52.97 to complete twenty third within the occasion.

The quickest 200 butterflyer on the group was now graduated Jessica Eden, who swam 1:56.69 in January at Ohio State’s meet in opposition to Pitt, and Tobler was 2nd in 1:58.25.

Shnowske is coming onto the group with a lifetime better of 1:55.04 within the 200 fly, which is greater than a second below the NCAA cutline of 1:56.22 within the occasion and sits simply exterior the 1:54.99 it took to complete sixteenth.

In the 100 fly, Shnowske is available in at 52.56 from March of this 12 months. She sits somewhat exterior the NCAA qualifying time of 51.99, however might simply drop into qualification vary throughout her freshman 12 months.

IM: ★

As typical for robust distance groups, the Ohio State girls are considerably higher on the 400 IM than they’re within the 200 IM.

They didn’t rating any IM factors ultimately 12 months’s NCAA Championships, however the potential is there, particularly within the 400 IM.

Sienna Angove swam each IM occasions on the Big Ten Championships, ending fifth within the 400 IM (4:06.51) and tenth within the 200 IM (1:57.72). Both swims had been season greatest instances, however she was off her private bests of 4:03.92 and 1:55.06, which she swam on the 2025 Big Ten Championships earlier than happening to complete eighth within the 400 IM and twenty ninth within the 200 IM at NCAAs.

Despite swimming below the qualifying time within the 400 IM, Angove selected to swim the 200 freestyle as a substitute. If she races the 400 IM this 12 months, she shall be a giant level risk, although she is going to have to be nearer to her freshman 12 months time of 4:03.92. Her 200 IM can also be a possible level scoring occasion, but it surely conflicts with the five hundred freestyle, which is doubtlessly a stronger occasion for her.

Angove has appeared to maneuver away from the IM occasions each collegiately and internationally, solely swimming the 200 IM prelims at Canadian Trials and never racing the 400 IM on the meet in any respect.

Rising senior Paige Delma was invited to swim each occasions at NCAAS after swimming 1:57.07 and 4:07.99 on the Ohio State Invite in November. She added in each occasions on the NCAA Championships, swimming 1:59.09 to complete thirty first and 4:10.03 to complete twenty sixth. While each of her greatest instances sit somewhat exterior scoring place, if she will match them at NCAAs this 12 months, she is going to get a lot nearer to a finals swim.

Diving: ★★ ½

The solely place the Buckeyes misplaced any factors after the 2026 NCAA Championships was in diving. Lena Hentschel scored 13 factors, ending sixteenth on the 1-meter occasion and seventh on the 3-meter.

Directly behind Hentschel was sophomore diver Mia Prusiecki, who scored 12 factors after she completed seventh on the platform occasion.

The Buckeyes additionally had a pair of freshmen qualify for the platform diving occasion at NCAAs with Hannah Newbrook ending thirtieth and Brooklyn Petit ending twenty first.

Their remaining particular person diver on the 2026 NCAA Championships was rising senior Michelle Mazzara, who completed thirty fourth on the 1-meter and forty first on the 3-meter.

Relays: ★★

Note that the grading system doesn’t align completely for relays as double factors.

Relay grading system:

• 5 star (★★★★★) – 31+ factors per relay occasion
• 4 star (★★★★) – 22-30 relay factors per occasion
• 3 star (★★★) – 12-21 relay factors per occasion
• 2 star (★★) – 5-11 relay factors per occasion
• 1 star (★) – 0-4 relay factors per occasion

The Ohio State girls will not be dropping a single member of any of their 5 NCAA relays, and are solely gaining potential relay additions to this system this season.

Last 12 months, they completed twelfth within the 400 free relay, thirteenth within the 800 free relay and 200 medley relay, and twentieth within the 200 free and 400 medley relays.

This 12 months, they’ll doubtless add Brown switch Morgan Lukinac to a minimum of a couple of of those relays and freshman Anna Shnowske can even doubtlessly earn relay spots throughout her first season.

Total Stars: 16.5/40

2025-26 Outlook

Ohio State might have an outstanding 12 months this 12 months. Their core is getting older and with no main swimming graduations and just one level scorer not returning, they’ve a really excessive ceiling anc might end within the top-10 in 2027.

The largest query mark with Ohio State is their NCAA efficiency. With only a few NCAA veterans on final 12 months’s group, and just one junior swimmer and no senior swimmers on the NCAA Championships, it is sensible that a couple of of the swimmers added time from Big Tens.

With extra expertise below their belt, the Buckeyes shall be trying to copy or enhance their convention performances this 12 months now that they know what to anticipate in regard to the tight turnaround.

Sienna Angove, Rachel Bockrath, and Mila Nikanorov are going to be big pacesetters for the group with the potential to attain extremely in quite a few occasions if they’re in kind at NCAAs.

Maria Ramos Najji‘s major power is within the 100 breaststroke, but when she is firing on all cylinders, her particular person and relay contributions shall be monumental for a hopeful top-10 end result.

Ohio State additionally has very robust diving, and with extra groups transferring away from prioritizing their diving applications, any factors they decide up on the boards will assist their probabilities considerably.

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