Rice Wins 2026 American Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – Rice received the 2026 American Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship on Saturday, February 21, on the Greensboro Aquatic Center, efficiently defending its title from 2025.
 
The Owls completed with 1,404.5 whole factors, 154.5 forward of second-place Liberty, which had 1,250 factors. East Carolina, picked seventh within the Pre-Championship Poll, completed third with 1,009.5 factors, adopted by FIU with 990 factors. Tulane was fifth with 905.5 factors, adopted by Florida Atlantic (814), James Madison (787), Marshall (707.5) and North Texas (608).
 
Liberty’s Aly Bozzuto, the meet’s Most Outstanding Swimmer, earned her third particular person occasion win, claiming the 200-yard breaststroke in a time of two:09.47. It was her third NCAA automatic-qualifying mark of the meet. Nula Gow (2:10.77) and Ella Freeman (2:12.88) of Florida Atlantic have been second and third.
 
East Carolina’s Frida Zuniga was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Diver after profitable the platform diving occasion with a Championship-record 319.75 factors. Zuniga grew to become the primary diver to win all three particular person occasions at an American Championship. The North Texas duo of Amelia Sharp (240.6) and Kamryn Wong (233.5) rounded out the rostrum.
 
In the primary occasion of the occasion, Ava Portello of Rice received the 1,650-yard freestyle in an NCAA-qualifying time of 16:23.84. Rice accomplished 1-2-3 with Ella Dyson (16:25.90) and Ava Hamblett (16:41.94) putting second and third.
 
Liberty’s Kamryn Cannings earned her second NCAA automated bid of the meet, profitable the 100-yard freestyle in 48.40, forward of Marshall’s Elyse Wood in 48.82 and Tulane’s Eliza Lennox in 48.96.
 
Florida Atlantic’s Meg Drover-Smith received the 200-yard backstroke in 1:55.24, forward of Liberty’s Gwyn Frick in 1:55.61 and FIU’s Claudia Frasca in 1:55.92.
 
In the ultimate occasion of the meet, the Liberty group of Natalie Colarossi, Dakota Howard, Bozzuto and Cannings received in a time of three:16.84, forward of East Carolina (3:18.52) and FIU (3:19.43).
 
Frick was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Freshman Swimmer, whereas Tulane’s Libby Brewer was named the Most Outstanding Freshman Diver.
 
2026 American Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship
 
Team Scores

1. Rice                      1404.5
2. Liberty                 1250
3. East Carolina      1009.5
4. FIU                        990
5. Tulane                  905.5
6. Florida Atlantic  814
7. James Madison 787
8. Marshall              707.5
9. North Texas        608

 
American Championship Swimming Coach of the Year
Seth Huston, Rice
 
American Championship Diving Coaches of the Year
Ryan McIntire, East Carolina
Stephanie O’Callaghan, North Texas
 
Most Outstanding Swimmer
Aly Bozzuto, Liberty
 
Most Outstanding Diver
Frida Zuniga, East Carolina
 
Most Outstanding Freshman Swimmer
Gwyn Frick, Liberty
 
Most Outstanding Freshman Diver
Libby Brewer, Tulane

Wednesday, February 18

200-yard Medley Relay – Diana Santamaria, Frida Loebersli, Oumy Diop, Tawannah McLemore, FIU – 1:36.24 – Championship Record

500-yard Freestyle – Ava Portello, Rice – 4:42.67 – NCAA Automatic Qualifier

200-yard Individual Medley – Reese Cole, Rice – 1:58.28

50-yard Freestyle – Aly Bozzuto, Liberty – 22.27 – NCAA Automatic Qualifier

Team Diving Event – Sydney Guidara, Kamryn Wong, Amelia Sharp, North Texas – 298.25

Thursday, February 19

200-yard Freestyle Relay – Alexandra Volk, Emory Hill, Madison Wimmer, Jamie Cornwell, James Madison – 1:30.22

400-yard Individual Medley – Reese Cole, Rice – 4:12.61 – NCAA Automatic Qualifier

100-yard Butterfly – Kamryn Cannings, Liberty – 51.77 – NCAA Automatic Qualifier

200-yard Freestyle – Lise Coetzee, Tulane – 1:46.77

1-meter Diving Finals – Frida Guzman, East Carolina – 314.75 (Championship document set by Sydney Guidara in prelims – 320.55)

400-yard Medley Relay – Gwyneth Frick, Aly Bozzuto, Kamryn Cannings, Dakota Howard, Liberty – 3:33.70

Friday, February 20

800-yard Freestyle Relay – Ava Portello, Avery Karacz, Ava Hamblett, Reese Cole, Rice – 7:12.09

3-meter Diving Finals – Frida Guzman, East Carolina – 378.45 – Championship Record

100-yard Backstroke – Gwyneth Frick, Liberty – 52.92

100-yard Breaststroke – Aly Bozzuto, Liberty – 59.57 – NCAA Automatic Qualifier

200-yard Butterfly – Lauren McNamara, Marshall – 1:58.16

Saturday, February 21

1,650-yard Freestyle – Ava Portello, Rice – 16:23.84 – NCAA Automatic Qualifier

100-yard Freestyle – Kamryn Cannings, Liberty – 48.40 – NCAA Automatic Qualifier

200-yard Backstroke – Meg Drover-Smith, Florida Atlantic – 1:55.24

200-yard Breaststroke – Aly Bozzuto, Liberty – 2:09.47 – NCAA Automatic Qualifier

Platform Diving Finals – Frida Zuniga, East Carolina – 319.75 – Championship Record

400-yard Freestyle Relay – Natalie Colarossi, Dakota Howard, Aly Bozzuto, Kamryn Cannings, Liberty – 3:16.84