CCIW Men’s Swimming & Diving Pocket book (Jan. 22, 2026)

NAPERVILLE — The calendar is starting to dictate the dialog throughout the convention, and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) males’s swimming and diving season is responding in type. 

January has introduced a clearer image of the place depth, star energy and momentum reside, as groups steadiness twin meets with high-quality invitational fields and start fine-tuning lineups forward of February. This week’s pocket book displays that shift, that includes report performances, rising convention leaders and several other applications utilizing the ultimate weeks of the common season to sharpen their championship profiles.

Leslie’s Leading Edge: Augustana Surges in Grinnell

Augustana delivered one among its strongest collective performances of the season on the Grinnell Invitational final Friday and Saturday, ending second in a aggressive nine-team discipline. 

Junior Tyler Leslie powered the Vikings’ surge, capturing three particular person victories and incomes CCIW Men’s Swimming Student-Athlete of the Week honors on Tuesday. Leslie received the 200-yard particular person medley (1:52.83), 200-yard freestyle (1:40.83) and 200-yard backstroke (1:53.85), together with his 200 IM standing because the quickest time within the convention this season. Augustana confirmed depth within the 200 free by sweeping the highest three locations, with Mark Addison and Emanuel Anguelov becoming a member of Leslie on the rostrum.

Relay energy was additionally a defining issue, because the Vikings set a meet report within the 800-yard freestyle relay. Leslie, Matthew Meyer, Luke Rettig and Anguelov mixed for a 7:01.70, breaking the earlier customary by two seconds and establishing the highest time within the CCIW this 12 months. 

Meyer added a runner-up end within the 400 IM (4:17.03), whereas Rettig positioned fourth within the 50 free (21.37). Caesar Castillo contributed with a fourth-place displaying within the 100 IM, rounding out a well-balanced Augustana effort.

 

Record-Breaking Return: Eilmes and the Thunder Strike in Kalamazoo

Wheaton returned to competitors on Saturday on the Illinois-Michigan Quad Meet, putting second total behind nationally ranked Hope. The efficiency of junior Isaac Eilmes anchored the Thunder lineup, as he broke the Kalamazoo pool report within the 1,000-yard freestyle with a successful time of 9:56.18. The mark eclipsed the earlier report by greater than 4 seconds and stays one of many high occasions within the convention, second solely to Eilmes’ personal season greatest. He later showcased versatility with a fifth-place end within the 200 breaststroke.

 

The Thunder additionally leaned on established scorers all through the meet. Jac Cummings recorded runner-up finishes in each the 200 freestyle (1:46.14) and 200 butterfly (2:01.38), whereas Ben Coley positioned second within the 100 freestyle (48.03) and third within the 200 IM (2:00.81). 

 

Senior Josh Elsen added a personal-best 2:16.08 within the 200 breaststroke to complete third. Wheaton opened and closed the meet with third-place finishes within the 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay, respectively.

 

Diving for Dominance: Murphy’s Sweep Highlights Carthage Senior Day

Carthage celebrated Senior Day final Saturday with a carefully contested twin in opposition to Illinois Tech. While the Firebirds fell 156.50-142.50, the meet was outlined by sophomore Taydin Murphy’s commanding efficiency on the boards. Murphy swept each diving occasions, scoring season-best marks of 252.20 on the 1-meter and 274.20 on the 3-meter, incomes his fifth CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week honor this season.

 

In the pool, Tyson Politsch continued his sturdy marketing campaign with a decisive win within the 500 freestyle (4:55.38). Politsch stays the convention chief in each the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke. Junior AJ Landorf shared first place within the 100 butterfly (52.66) and continues to rank among the many CCIW’s high performers in each the butterfly and backstroke occasions.

 

Pioneering Progress: Carroll Cleans Up in Ripon

Carroll prolonged its dual-meet momentum final Saturday by sweeping a triangular in opposition to Ripon and Lawrence. The Pioneers set the tone early with a victory within the 200 medley relay (1:56.37). Mannon Stern claimed the 1,000 freestyle (11:57.48), whereas Gavin Buechel added a win within the 200 freestyle earlier than contributing within the sprints.

 

Carroll’s versatility confirmed by way of the center of the meet, as Jonah Lotegeluaki posted a team-best 52.31 within the 100 freestyle and later received the 200 IM. Elias Griggs LeRoux positioned second within the 50 freestyle (23.55) and Dawson Schultz contributed a runner-up end on the 1-meter board. The Pioneers closed the day with a robust 400 freestyle relay to safe each crew victories.

 

Cardinal Conviction: North Central Finds Speed in Monmouth

North Central traveled to Monmouth final Saturday and got here away with precious progress regardless of a 57-26 crew consequence. Sophomore Clark Wilson claimed the Cardinals’ lone occasion win within the 50 freestyle (24.62) and anchored the combined 200 medley relay. Junior Griffin Laurin narrowly missed a win within the 200 freestyle and stays the crew chief within the 500 free, whereas senior Mihir Chandra continues to tempo North Central within the dash occasions.

 

Titan Toughness and Big Blue Battles: Bloomington Tri-Meet Recap

Illinois Wesleyan hosted Millikin and Illinois College final Friday, producing 5 occasion wins. Tate Thomas swept the 200 and 500 freestyle, Ben Huk received each the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle and Jacob Nacional topped the 100 butterfly. Millikin noticed victories from Dawsen Loafman, Gavin Dobson and Ridge Batchelor, splitting the triangular.

Charting the CCIW Course and The Horizon

League leaders are taking form as groups flip their consideration to the Thunder Invitational and last regular-season tune-ups, setting the stage for the CCIW Championships in February.