Sycamores head to Ocala for the 2026 CSCAA National Invitational Championship

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Ten Indiana State swimmers are heading all the way down to Ocala, Fla. and the 2026 CSCAA National Invitational Championship this week because the Sycamores head into postseason competitors on the Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training facility in Ocala, Fla. over March 12-14.
 
Kalli Agapios, Kaleigh Kelley, Erin Cummins, Raine Boles, Ali Pearson, Claire Parsons, Maria Saldana Riebeling, Gemma Dilks, Addison Johnson, and Anna Asplund all turned in qualifying occasions to advance to the CSCAA NIC this season. The 10 athletes be a part of Jecza Lopez (NCAA Zone C Qualifiers) and Grace Cummings (NCAA Qualifier – 1650-yard Freestyle) in competing in postseason competitors this spring.
 
The three-day occasion will characteristic preliminary classes beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET, whereas finals will begin at 6 p.m. ET.
 
“The NIC is a great postseason opportunity for our program to go compete against teams from across the nation,” head coach Josh Christensen stated. “We always have some really good swims at this meet and use it as another learning and growth opportunity as we continue to build our program.”
 

Indiana State is coming off its second consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championship after topping the sphere two weeks in the past on the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Ind. The Sycamores totaled 1,236 factors throughout the four-day meet to carry off Southern Illinois (1,161) and Missouri State (1,117) for the title.
 
Overall, Indiana State featured 4 particular person title winners on the meet with Grace Cummings (500 Free, 1650 Free), Ali Pearson (100 Breast), and Jecza Lopez (1M Springboard) all recording titles. The Sycamores additionally topped the sphere within the 200-yard Medley Relay.
 
Indiana State additionally positioned 10 athletes on the MVC All-Conference First Team, with an extra 10 incomes Honorable Mention over the 4 days within the water with Asplund, Boles, Cummings, Haley Halsall, Kelley, Lopez, Parsons, Pearson, Riebeling, Sahara Visscher, Agapios, Cummins, Sophia Diaz, and Johnson all garnering postseason accolades.
 
The Sycamores look to construct off final yr’s success in Florida as Indiana State posted a program-best ninth-place end on the 2025 CSCAA NIC. The staff collected 334 factors with the Sycamores placing 14 swimmers in both the A-Finals or B-Finals over the three-day occasion.
 
Indiana State’s efforts within the pool featured the Sycamores recording high 5 finishes within the 1000 Free (Erin Cummins), 1650 Free (Claire Parsons), and the 400-yard Freestyle Relay. Cummins earned the Sycamores’ first podium end on the CSCAA’s after turning within the third-fastest time general within the 1000-yard Freestyle.
 
The schedule for the 2026 CSCAA NIC is listed under.
 
Thursday, March 12
Morning Prelims (9:30 a.m.): 50 Back, 500 Free, 50 Fly, 200 IM, 50 Breast, 50 Free, 400 Medley Relay
Evening Finals (6 p.m.): 200 Free Relay, 50 Back, 500 Free, 50 Fly, 200 IM, 50 Breast, 50 Free, 400 Medley Relay (Top 20 Fastest Seeded Relays)
 
Friday, March 13
Morning Prelims (9:30 a.m.): 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back, 800 Free Relay
Evening Finals (6 p.m.): 200 Medley Relay, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back, 800 Free Relay (Top 20 Fastest Seeded Relays)
 
Saturday, March 14
Morning Prelims (9:30 a.m.): 100 IM, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 400 Free Relay
Distance Session (TBA): 1000 Free/1650 Free
Evening Finals (6 p.m.): 1000/1650 Free (Top 10 Fastest Seeded Individuals), 100 IM, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 400 Free Relay (Top 20 Fastest Seeded Relays)
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the newest info on Sycamore Swimming and Diving, go to GoSycamores.com. You may also discover the staff on social media, together with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans may also obtain updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the each the App Store and the Google Play Store.