Indianapolis, Ind.- The University of Findlay men's and women's swimming and diving teams concluded their trip to the IU Natatorium for the 2025 Division II Swimming & Diving National Championship on Saturday, March 15. It was a historic day in central Indiana for the Oilers as the women went on to finish ninth in the country, the highest finish in program history and a spot higher than a season ago. Findlay's men ended the week in 21st.

"I'm extremely proud of the work this amazing group did not only over this past week, but over the entire year," said head coach Diego Santos. "We had to face lots of really amazing and talented teams, while dealing with extremely unfortunate injuries, and sickness, but the way we were able to face and tackle those challenges was very impressive. It is very rewarding seeing how the hard work and sacrifices made through the entire year paid off. It didn't go perfectly, but that is good, because it gives us a bit more fuel and motivation to do even better next year. We know it won't be easy, but we are up to the challenge."

In total, Findlay garnered 11 individual all-American awards, four of which were first team and seven of which were second team. The Oilers women also earned all-American in four relays for a grand total of 15 times in which Findlay earned a top-16 finish. 

Saturday got started with the 100 free which saw junior Emily Mears-Bentley finish the morning session with the ninth best time, a program record of 49.82. In the evening's finals, swimming in her last individual event of the season, Mears-Bentley finished eleventh, recording a time of 49.88, good for second team all-American. In the same event, junior Troie Grubbs and sophomore Sofia Lesmes Montes fell short of the finals, placing 33rd and 40th.

Senior Sasha Melnyk took to the pool next for Findlay in the morning trials, in which she finished ninth in the 200 back with a time of 1:58.49. In the consolation final, Melnyk clocked in at 2:00.25, good for 13th and second team all-American honors.

In the same event on the men's side, junior Randy Keener clocked in with a program record time of 1:45.06 good for twelfth and a spot in the consolation finals. Keener finished twelfth in the finals as well this time with a time of 1:45.13, good for second team all-American honors.

Junior Katie Susi competed in the 200 breast, posting a prelim time of 2:17.91 to rank 19th.

In the 200 breast, senior Marko Priednieks clocked 1:58.74 in the prelims, ranking 15th and earning a spot in the consolation finals. He later improved to 1:58.52 in the evening, securing 13th place and second-team all-American honors.

Junior Matteo Filippi ended his week with the 1650 freestyle. He finished the event in 10th with a time of 15:29.76 to earn second team all-American honors and establish a new program record.

Saturday evening wrapped up with the 400 freestyle relay, where the Oilers' women's squad took the stage. Senior Sydney Jones led off, followed by Grubbs, freshman Olivia Scheibelhoffer, and Mears-Bentley. The quartet secured fourth place with a program record time of 3:20.97, an eleven-spot improvement from last season, earning first-team all-American honors.

This marks the end of UF's 2024-25 swimming and diving season.