Get ready for a night of record-breaking swims and fierce competition! Night 3 of the 2026 NCAC Championships delivered a thrilling showcase of talent, with Denison and Kenyon dominating the pool and rewriting the record books. But here's where it gets even more exciting: three meet records fell, two by Denison and one by Kenyon, setting the stage for an unforgettable showdown. And this is the part most people miss—the strategic depth and individual brilliance that propelled these teams to victory.
The 2026 NCAC Championships, held from February 10-14, 2026 in Granville, Ohio, featured short course yards (SCY) races. For those following along, Meet Mobile provided live updates, and detailed results can be found on the official platform (https://sidearmstats.com/denison/swim/index.htm). If you missed the action, catch up with the Day 1 Recap (https://swimswam.com/denison-men-lead-denison-kenyon-women-tied-after-day-1-of-ncac-championships/) and Day 2 Recap (https://swimswam.com/denison-men-grow-lead-kenyon-women-sweep-swim-events-on-night-2-at-ncac-championships/) to see how the teams stacked up before this pivotal night.
Men’s Recap: Denison’s dominance was on full display as they shattered two meet records. Leading the charge was Jack Hill, who not only broke the 200 free record with a time of 1:35.66 but also holds the top Division III time this season (1:35.18 from December). His teammate, Nick Hensel, secured second place in 1:37.30. But the record-breaking didn’t stop there—Denison’s 200 free relay team, anchored by Hill (19.90), Hensel (19.13), Cam Blevins-Mohr, and Samuel Hibbert, clocked a meet-record 1:18.42, surpassing Kenyon’s 2012 record of 1:18.77. Speaking of Blevins-Mohr, the freshman stunned with a personal best of 47.57 in the 100 fly, improving on his previous best of 48.21. Ben Bevill and Devin Testin secured a 1-2 finish for Denison in the 100 back with times of 48.42 and 49.36, respectively. Kenyon’s Ethan Manske stole the show in the 400 IM, using a blistering breaststroke split to overtake Denison’s Luke Swiggett and win in 3:52.99. Kenyon’s Noel Tumbasz added to the team’s success, winning the 100 breast in 54.42, just ahead of teammate Leo Karnitz (54.99).
Controversial Question: With Denison’s relay team breaking a record set by Kenyon in 2012, is this the start of a new era for Denison, or can Kenyon reclaim their dominance in future championships? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Scores Thru Day 3 (Men):
1. Denison University — 1352.5
2. Kenyon College — 1193.5
3. John Carroll University — 805.5
4. DePauw University — 716
5. Wabash College — 655
6. College of Wooster — 511.5
7. Oberlin College — 471
8. Ohio Wesleyan University — 276
9. Wittenberg University — 112
Women’s Recap: Kenyon’s women continued their reign, led by Gwen Eisenbeis, who set a new meet record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.36, breaking Olivia Smith’s 2022 record of 54.71. Eisenbeis now sits atop the NCAA rankings this season and is a force to be reckoned with after her 5th-place finish at the 2025 D3 NCAA Championships. Molly Haag added to Kenyon’s wins, taking the 200 free in 1:49.68, just ahead of teammate Nora Lee Brown (1:50.69). Kelsey Van Eldik dominated the 100 breast, winning in 1:01.32, though she’s been faster this season with a 1:00.76—a time that leads the NCAA. Denison refused to be outshone, with their women’s 200 free relay team of Olivia Morse, Phoebe Ferguson, Hailey Kaminski, and Caroline Ramirez edging out Kenyon by just 0.07 seconds with a time of 1:32.43. Ferguson also impressed in the 100 fly, finishing second in 55.40, just 0.02 behind teammate Jassy Park (55.38). Denison’s Emily Harris rounded out the night with a win in the 400 IM (4:22.77), though her season-best 4:20.06 remains the top Division III time.
Scores Thru Day 3 (Women):
(Scores not provided in the original content, but the structure mirrors the men’s scoring format.)
About Anya Pelshaw: Anya has been a cornerstone of SwimSwam since June 2021, serving as both a writer and social media coordinator. Her coverage spans the 2022-2025 Women's NCAA Championships, the 2023 US Summer Nationals, and the 2024 European Championships. For more on her work, visit her bio: https://swimswam.com/bio/anya-pelshaw/.
Final Thought: As the championships heat up, the rivalry between Denison and Kenyon is more intense than ever. Who will come out on top? And will more records fall before the final day? Share your predictions below—we want to hear from you!
