HAMPTON, VA --- The College of New Jersey and Salisbury University maintained commanding leads heading into the final day of competition Saturday at the 2026 NJAC Swimming & Diving Championships at the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex.
Women's Competition
Salisbury continues to dominate the women's competition with 1,093 points, as the Sea Gulls are well ahead of Mary Washington (676.5), Rowan (636), and Kean (617). Montclair State sits in fifth (539), followed by TCNJ (456), Merchant Marine (335.5), Roger Williams (268), Ramapo (231), and William Paterson (158).
Kean set a new conference record in the 200 freestyle relay, winning in 1:34.82 to break last year's mark of 1:35.12 and achieve the NCAA 'B' cut (1:34.93). Salisbury placed second (1:35.33), with Mary Washington third (1:35.41).
Rowan's Kaitlyn Crouthamel claimed the 400 IM title in 4:27.94, earning the NCAA 'B' cut (4:29.18). Salisbury duo Sadie Hebert (4:31.61) and Addi Wood (4:31.77) also medaled.
Rowan's Ella Pennington won the 100 butterfly in 54.53, achieving the NCAA 'B' cut, while Salisbury's Lily Griffin placed second in 55.83, also earning a 'B' cut. Teammate Olivia Polucha rounded out the podium with a 57.21 in the finals.
Salisbury freshman Rowan O'Donoghue continued her strong rookie meet as she set a conference record in the 200 freestyle twice today, winning in 1:49.26 to break her own mark of 1:52.61 set in prelims and earn an NCAA 'B' cut. Mary Washington's Spera Moy-Jacobs earned silver (1:53.70) and Salisbury's Lex Hilty finished with bronze (1:54.27).
Mary Washington's Soleil Clifford won the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.80, earning an NCAA 'B' cut. Salisbury's Maddie Powell finished second (1:04.73) and Kean's Abby Burns placed third (1:04.93).
Kean's Braelyn Wilson set a new conference record twice today in the 100 backstroke, winning in 54.71 to break her own prelims mark of 54.46 and earn an NCAA 'B' cut . Kean's Olivia Chow took second in 55.64, also hitting the 'B' standard. Salisbury freshman Izzy Salvatore finished third in 57.39.
Men's Competition
TCNJ leads with 1,188 points, holding a 260-point advantage over second-place Salisbury (928). United States Merchant Marine sits in third with 778 points, followed by Rowan (599), Mary Washington (576), Montclair State (375.5), Roger Williams (352.5), Ramapo (199), and William Paterson (121).
The Lions broke another conference championship record, this time in the 200 freestyle relay. They won in 1:21.08 to eclipse last year's mark of 1:21.42 and achieve the NCAA 'B' cut (1:21.31). Salisbury touched second in 1:21.34, and Merchant Marine in third (1:21.55).
TCNJ senior Gavin Formon won the 400 IM in 3:53.20, earning an NCAA 'B' cut (3:58.49), with Salisbury's Ethan Lloyd taking second in 3:58.95 and Montclair State's Michael Salvatori in third (3:59.06).
TCNJ sophomore Joe McChesney set a new conference record twice today in the 100 butterfly, winning in 47.19 to break his own mark of 47.32 set in prelims and earning an NCAA 'B' cut. Salisbury's Cameron Byrd also hit the 'B' standard with his second-place finish of 47.53, while TCNJ's Andrew Kidchob placed third in 48.58 to earn a 'B' cut.
In the 200 freestyle, TCNJ's Steven Bendoraitis won a thriller in 1:38.78 to achieve the NCAA 'B' cut, taking the gold by .04-second. Rowan's Braden Sheehan taking second in 1:38.82, also earning a 'B' cut. TCNJ's Kyle Brushaber was also on the podium with a 1:39.85.
Salisbury's Dominic Kazzi claimed the 100 breaststroke title in 54.56, hitting the NCAA 'B' cut (55.19), while TCNJ's Tyler McGeehan placed second in 54.67, also achieving the 'B' standard. Salisbury's Aidan Loehr (55.06) and USMMA's John Frank (55.15) rounded out the top four, both earning 'B' cuts.
TCNJ's Andrew Kidchob won the 100 backstroke in 48.64, earning an NCAA 'B' cut (49.28). USMMA's Teague Mayer and Max Fedorenko tied for second at 49.45, both hitting the 'B' standard.
Merchant Marine swept the diving podium for the second time this weekend, this time on the 1-meter board. Freshman Carter Kov won with a score of 467.90 and Thomas Cable placed second at 438.80, both exceeding the NCAA qualifying mark. Charles Williams was third with a score of 340.05.
The championships conclude Sunday at the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex.