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ANNAPOLIS, Md. \u2013 The Navy men\u2019s and women\u2019s programs captured the 2026 Patriot League Swimming and Diving titles on Saturday night at the United States Naval Academy\u2019s Lejeune Hall.<\/p>\n
The Midshipmen secured their 21st title in program history, while the Navy women claimed their 14th straight championship and 24th overall in school history.<\/p>\n
Navy\u2019s men totaled 1,792 points to place first, defending champion Army West Point finished second with 1,210 points and Loyola Maryland placed third with 1,061 points. Boston University (936) and Bucknell (863) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Lehigh (560), Holy Cross (453), Lafayette (360), Colgate (345) and American (230) rounded out the 10-team men\u2019s standings.<\/p>\n
The Navy women scored 1,427.50 points; the Black Knights finished as the runner-up with 1,293.50 points and the Bison placed third with 1,014.50 points. Rounding out the top five were Boston University (914) and Loyola Maryland (797) in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Lehigh (637), Colgate (611), American (523.50), Holy Cross (337) and Lafayette (303) completed the 10-team women\u2019s standings.<\/p>\n
2025 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Major Awards
\nArmy West Point\u2019s Angie McKane and Molly Webber each earned Women\u2019s Highest Point Scorer honors with 96 points apiece. Webber finishes her West Point career as a three-time highest point scorer at the League championship. The Black Knights\u2019 sophomore Johnny Crush took home Men\u2019s Highest Point Scorer accolades with 92 total points.<\/p>\n
The Patriot League Men’s and Women’s Swimmer of the Meet, the Men’s and Women’s Diver of the Meet, the Men’s and Women’s Rookie of the Meet, the Patriot League Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Joe Suriano Men’s Diving Coaching Staff of the Year and the Patriot League Women’s Diving Coaching Staff of the Year awards will be announced on Monday, Feb. 23.<\/p>\n
1650-Yard Freestyle
\nArmy West Point\u2019s Molly Webber completed the three-peat in the women\u2019s 1,650-yard freestyle as the senior clocked a winning time of 16:31.72, becoming the third swimmer in League history to win the event three times (Tara Chapmon, Navy – 2008-10, Meghan Thiel, American – 2005-07). Navy\u2019s Sarah Eldridge logged a runner-up finish at 16:38.23, while Bucknell\u2019s Kelly Byrne (16:52.36) rounded out the podium in third. <\/p>\n
On the men\u2019s side, Navy freshman Chase Maier captured the title with an NCAA qualifying time of 14:54.68, becoming the first Midshipman to win the event since 2020. Teammate Ben Mauldin grabbed a silver medal after finishing in 15:12.08, and Boston University\u2019s Giovanni Sullo claimed third with a time of 15:22.64.<\/p>\n
200-Yard Backstroke
\nIn the women\u2019s 200-yard backstroke, Colgate\u2019s MG King secured the Raiders\u2019 first gold medal in the event since 2012 with a winning time of 1:56.51. American\u2019s Piper Crosby touched the wall in 1:57.83 to earn a runner-up finish and Boston University\u2019s Danka Ndubuisi rounded out the podium in 1:57.98. \u00a0<\/p>\n
For the third straight year, Navy’s Ben Irwin won the gold medal in the men’s 200-yard backstroke as the junior clocked an NCAA qualifying time of 1:40.13. Irwin becomes just the second swimmer in League history to win the event three times (Chris Devlin, Bucknell – 2016-18). Loyola Maryland junior Joe Hayburn earned silver for the second straight year with a time of 1:40.29 and Navy\u2019s Martin Perecinsky took third in 1:41.25. <\/p>\n
100-Yard Freestyle
\nFor the first time since 2012, a Black Knight captured gold in the women\u2019s 100-yard freestyle as Angie McKane touched the wall in a Patriot League and championship record time of 48.85. Boston University freshman Molly Barber secured a runner-up finish with a time of 49.94 and Navy\u2019s Erin Miller rounded out the podium in third at 49.95. <\/p>\n
On the men\u2019s side, Army West Point won its second straight gold medal as Johnny Crush touched the wall first in a Lejeune Hall record and NCAA qualifying time of 42.44. Navy\u2019s Preston Kessler finished just behind with a mark of 42.50 and teammate Ben Denman-Grimm earned the bronze medal at 42.73.<\/p>\n
200-Yard Breaststroke
\nFor the second straight year, Army West Point’s Catriona Gilmore earned the gold medal in the 200-yard breaststroke as she set the meet record with an NCAA qualifying time of 2:10.28. Navy claimed the final two spots on the podium as Lauren Walsh (2:11.66) finished as the runner-up, while Corinne Warriner took third with a time of 2:11.90. <\/p>\n
Navy\u2019s Michael Phillips secured the Midshipmen\u2019s first men\u2019s 200-yard breaststroke title since 2017 as he clocked a meet record and NCAA qualifying time of 1:52.82. Teammate Juan Mora finished as the runner-up, touching the wall in 1:54.20, and Army West Point\u2019s Joey Kling completed the podium at 1:54.88. <\/p>\n
200-Yard Butterfly
\nBucknell sophomore Clara Renner secured the Bison\u2019s first gold medal in the women\u2019s 200-yard butterfly since 2006 as she touched the mall in 1:58.63. Army West Point\u2019s Sydney Braeger earned a runner-up finish with a time of 1:59.12 and Boston University\u2019s Haley Newman, a two-time champion, rounded out the podium at 1:59.58.<\/p>\n
For the seventh straight year, a Midshipman took home gold in the men\u2019s 200-yard butterfly as sophomore Dean Jones clocked a Patriot League, championship meet and an NCAA qualifying time of 1:41.87. Teammate Tyler Kaminski earned a runner-up finish with a time of 1:44.55 and Loyola Maryland\u2019s Luke Dwyer captured the bronze medal at 1:46.21. <\/p>\n
3-Meter Diving \u2013 Women
\nBoston University\u2019s Alayna Kennedy completed the weekend sweep of the diving events as the freshman scored 321.30 points on the three-meter board to win the event. She edged out Navy\u2019s Mackenzie Kim, the defending champion, by one point, finishing as the runner-up with 320.05 points. Army West Point\u2019s Hadley Futch rounded out the podium with a score of 299.60. <\/p>\n
400-Yard Freestyle Relay
\nArmy West Point captured gold in the 400-yard freestyle relay for the fourth straight year, with the team of Angie McKane, Jenna Hart, Sydney Braeger and Molly Webber finishing in a time of 3:19.86. Lehigh captured silver, as Mairin Ludwig, Eliza Johnson, Genevieve Cody and Caitlin Deitch touched the wall in a time of 3:21.08. Navy placed third, as Samantha Clifford, Erin Miller, Lauren Walsh and Sarah Eldridge posted a time of 3:22.08.<\/p>\n
Navy\u2019s quartet of Preston Kessler, Ben Denman-Grimm, Lachlan Andrew and Dean Jones broke a Patriot League Championship record, claiming gold in a time of 2:50.16, besting the previous record set by Army West Point last year by more than two seconds. The Black Knights finished second, with Ben Vorthmann, Joey Kling, Johnny Crush and Thomas Hadji posting a time of 2:51.10. Loyola Maryland\u2019s team of Joe Hayburn, Brennan Coyle, Colin Davis and Derek Feldman earned bronze, finishing in 2:53.32. <\/p>\n
2026 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Major Awards
\nWomen\u2019s Highest Point Scorer: Angie McKane & Molly Webber, Army West Point
\nMen\u2019s Highest Point Scorer:\u00a0Johnny Crush, Army West Point<\/p>\n
Women \u2013 Team Rankings
\n1. Navy \u2013 1,427.50
\n2. Army West Point \u2013 1,293.50
\n3. Bucknell \u2013 1,014.50
\n4. Boston University \u2013 914
\n5. Loyola Maryland \u2013 797
\n6. Lehigh \u2013 637
\n7. Colgate \u2013 611
\n8. American \u2013 523.50
\n9. Holy Cross \u2013 337
\n10. Lafayette \u2013 303<\/p>\n
Men \u2013 Team Rankings
\n1. Navy \u2013 1,792
\n2. Army West Point \u2013 1,210
\n3. Loyola Maryland \u2013 1,061
\n4. Boston University \u2013 936
\n5. Bucknell \u2013 863
\n6. Lehigh \u2013 560
\n7. Holy Cross \u2013 453
\n8. Lafayette \u2013 360
\n9. Colgate \u2013 345
\n10. American \u2013 230<\/p>\n