BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Navy men’s swimming and diving team owns the lead after day one of the 2026 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships at the United States Naval Academy’s Lejeune Hall. The Army West Point Black Knights are in first place on the women’s side with 128 points.
200-Yard Medley Relay
For the first time since 2020 and the fourth time in program history, Army West Point’s women’s team captured the 200-yard medley relay title as the quartet of Angie McKane, Catriona Gilmore, Syndney Braeger and Tiana Mescher swam a Patriot League and championship record time of 1.38.37. Navy’s Ela Habjan, Lauren Walsh, Julianne McCraine and Elise Delacruz finished as the runner-up with a time of 1:38.85. Loyola Maryland’s Maeve Brandenburg, Bryce Gold, Christine Datovech and Haley Robinson rounded out the podium at 1:40.17.
The Midshipmen secured first place in the men’s 200-yard medley relay for the first time since 2023 and the 16th time in school history as Ben Irwin, Juan Mora, Lachlan Andrew and Ben Grimm-Denman clocked a championship record time of 1:23.59. The two-time defending champion Greyhounds’ relay squad (Joe Hayburn, Brennan Coyle, Hans Van Lierop, Derek Feldman) finished as the runner-up with a time of 1:23.69, while Army West Point’s Johnny Crush, Kohen Rankin, Daniel Verdolaga and Ben Vorthmann led the Black Knights to a third-place finish (1:23.80).
3-Meter Diving - Men
The Midshipmen swept the podium in the men’s three-meter dive, led by junior Finn Gelbach, who captured his second career title with a score of 364.95. Luke Ogren finished as the runner-up with 347.55 points and Anthony Sciulli captured third place with a score of 341.70.
800-Yard Freestyle Relay
The Black Knights’ women’s team captured gold in the 800-yard freestyle relay for the third straight championship and fourth time in school history as Jenna Hart, Elle Burke, Molly Webber and Sydney Braeger posted a time of 7:13.83. Navy’s unit of Kaitlyn Landers, Erin Miller, Brynn Stoneburg and Allie Maloney touched the wall in 7:14.39 to finish as the runner-up. Bucknell rounded out the podium in third place as the Bison’s Clara Renner, Jennifer Bolden, Kyla Kelly and Sydney Dettmann swam a 7:19.33.
Navy concluded day one in record-breaking fashion as the Midshipmen’s quartet of Dean Jones, Xavier Sohovich, Martin Perecinsky and Ben Stankovich clocked a Patriot League and championship record time of 6:16.34. Two-time defending champion Army West Point (Sam Reilly, Max Peterson, Thomas Hadji, Max Jordan) placed second with a time of 6:26.52, while Boston University’s Giovanni Sullo, Nathan Lee, Jonny Farber and Charlie Nenchev combined to finish third (6:30.38).
Day two of the 2026 Patriot League Swimming & Diving Championships resumes on Thursday with preliminaries at 10 a.m., followed by finals at 6 p.m. Live coverage will be available each day on ESPN+.
Additional information on the Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships can be found on the championship page HERE.
Women – Team Rankings – Through Event 5
1. Army West Point – 128
2. Navy – 112
3. Bucknell – 104
4. Loyola Maryland – 100
4. Lehigh – 100
6. Boston University – 94
6. Colgate – 94
8. American – 92
9. Holy Cross – 84
10. Lafayette – 68
Men – Team Rankings – Through Event 5
1. Navy – 215
2. Army West Point – 173
3. Boston University – 159
4. Bucknell – 147
5. Loyola Maryland – 135
6. Holy Cross – 126
7. Lehigh – 98
7. American – 98
9. Lafayette – 96
10. Colgate – 91
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.