Canton, Ohio — The University of Findlay swimming and diving teams opened the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference/Mountain East Conference Championships with a dominant first day at C.T. Branin Natatorium, positioning both programs to continue their long-running championship streaks. The event will take place over four days, beginning today, Feb. 10 with team champions being crowned on the final day, Friday, Feb. 13.
Findlay entered the meet with the men ranked No. 9 and the women No. 13 in Division II. The Oilers backed up those rankings immediately, surging to the top of the standings after Tuesday's finals. The women ended the night with 495 points, while the men posted 491 points to take early control of the four-day meet. The women have won five conference titles while the men have collected eight.
Findlay's opening night included multiple NCAA provisional standards, a pool record, a meet record and several event victories across both programs.
Men's Highlights
The Oilers opened with a win in the 200-yard medley relay as Nick Beratz, Sebastian Washington, Stanislav Lohvynenko and Camdyn Sever combined for a time of 1:30.79 to take the title.
Freshman Sebastian Camacho opened his meet with an emphatic win in the 1,000-yard freestyle, posting a time of 9:03.88 to break the pool record and earn an NCAA Division II B standard. The swim also lowered his own school record and is the third-fastest time in the country this season. Senior Matteo Filippi followed with a runner-up finish in 9:21.80, also below the NCAA B cut.
In the 200 IM, senior Randy Keener delivered one of the standout swims of the night, winning in 1:47.34 to break the meet record and secure another NCAA B mark and pick up his 12th career event title. Teammates Arnaldo Guimaraes (1:52.39) and Beratz (1:52.80) also hit NCAA B standards.
The 2023 G-MAC Swimmer of the Meet, senior Camilo Marrugo sprinted to a win in the 50 freestyle with a time of 19.84, adding yet another NCAA B cut and winning his 16th event title of his career. Freshman Juan Blandon Torres finished second in 20.32, also under the B standard.
Findlay closed the night with a victory in the 200 freestyle relay. The team of Blandon Torres, Santiago Arteaga Restrepo, Keener II and Marrugo posted a time of 1:19.78, breaking the meet record and recording an NCAA provisional qualifying time.
Women's Highlights
Findlay earned its first women's win of the meet in the 200-yard medley relay, as Macee Reckard, Katie Susi, Lexi Jankowski and Troie Grubbs combined for a winning time of 1:42.58.
Freshman Michelle Jativa led the Oilers in the 1,000 freestyle with a fourth-place finish in 10:40.88, earning an NCAA B standard. Sophomore Sophie Busby followed in fifth with a time of 10:43.87.
Senior Emily Mears-Bentley, the three-time reigning G-MAC Swimmer of the Year, secured the 200 IM title in 2:04.53, meeting the NCAA B cutoff. Senior Katie Susi finished second, while juniors Jankowski and Emma Montgomery placed fifth and sixth, respectively, giving Findlay four of the top six finishers.
The Oilers dominated the 50 freestyle, sweeping the podium. Senior Troie Grubbs won in 22.97, breaking the meet record, while sophomore Olivia Scheibelhoffer took second in 23.19, also under the previous meet mark. Freshman Helmi Kakela placed third. Both Grubbs and Scheibelhoffer met NCAA B standards.
Findlay's women capped the night by winning the 200 freestyle relay, with Faith Marsicek, Kakela, Anabelle Smith and Scheibelhoffer teaming to record a time of 1:34.26.
Findlay will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 11. The prelims will be held in a morning session with finals to follow in the evening. All coverage of the event can be found on findlayoilers.com including the live stream on the Mountain East Network.
