ANNAPOLIS, Md. – After three days of the 2026 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships at the United States Naval Academy’s Lejeune Hall, the Navy men’s swimming and diving program holds firm in the lead, while the Mids women’s swimming and diving team maintains their advantage in the team standings heading into the final day of competition.
Defending champion Army West Point (883) is in second place in the men’s standings, followed by Loyola Maryland with 720 points.
The Black Knights rank second on the women’s side with 814 points and Bucknell sits in third with 680 points after the third day.
100-Yard Butterfly
Army West Point’s Angie McKane claimed the top spot in the women’s 100-yard butterfly as the sophomore clocked a Patriot League record, championship record and an NCAA qualifying time of 51.34, becoming the first Black Knight to win the event since 2018. Boston University’s Kiki Rampersad finished as the runner-up after touching the wall in 53.16, while Loyola Maryland’s Christine Datovech rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 53.74.
On the men’s side, Navy junior Ben Irwin captured the title with an NCAA qualifying time of 46.11, becoming the fifth Midshipman to win the event in the last six years. Loyola Maryland junior Joe Hayburn touched the wall second in a time of 46.53, and Navy senior Ben Denman-Grim claimed bronze, finishing in 46.98.
400-Yard Individual Medley
Bucknell junior Kelly Byrne secured gold in the women's 400-yard individual medley with a winning time of 4.16.24, becoming the second straight Bison to win the event. Navy’s Sarah Eldridge earned a runner-up finish with a time of 4:17.99 and Boston University’s Haley Newman captured the bronze in 4:18.28.
In the men’s 400-yard individual relay, Army West Point's Kalvin Hahn claimed his second career title in the 400-yard individual medley after swimming a winning time of 3:47.66. Navy’s Coleman Yates turned in a time of 3:48.08 to place second and Holy Cross’ John Greiner rounded out the podium in third at 3:48.77.
200-Yard Freestyle
Army West Point’s Molly Webber claimed her third straight title in the women’s 200-yard freestyle with a winning time of 1:46.38. The senior became the League’s third student-athlete to win the event at least three times at the championship. Navy claimed the final two spots on the podium as Erin Miller finished as the runner-up (1:47.78), while teammate Allie Maloney took third with a time of 1:48.84.
In the men’s race, Navy’s Martin Perecinsky earned the gold medal after swimming a championship record time of 1:34.07. The Midshipmen have now won the event 16 of the last 17 years. Fellow teammate Xavier Sohovich finished as the runner-up (1:34.23) and Army West Point’s Thomas Hadji claimed the bronze medal (1:34.89).
100-Yard Breaststroke
Navy's Lauren Walsh used a come-from-behind swim to earn the gold in the 100-yard breaststroke, breaking a Patriot League, and Championship record and earning an NCAA qualifying time of 59.78. Army West Point’s Catriona Gilmore earned the silver medal with a time of 1:00.12 and the Mids’ Corrine Warriner claimed third place at 1:00.66.
Army West Point’s Kohen Rankin made Patriot League history as the senior became the first swimmer to win the 100-yard breaststroke four times. Rankin finished with an NCAA qualifying time of 51.59. Navy’s Gavin Green (52.39) and Juan Mora (52.41) claimed second and third place, respectively.
100-Yard Backstroke
Army West Point’s Angie McKane captured her second gold medal of the evening with a first-place finish in the women’s 100-yard breaststroke. She becomes the first Black Knight to win the event since 2018 after clocking a time of 52.83. American’s Piper Crosby earned a runner-up finish with a time of 53.20 and Navy’s Ela Habjan claimed the bronze in 54.35.
For the second straight season, Army West Point's Johnny Crush captured gold in the men's 100-yard backstroke. The sophomore clocked a championship, meet record and an NCAA qualifying time of 44.80. Loyola Maryland junior Joe Hayburn finished as the runner-up at 44.93 and Navy’s Ben Irwin completed the podium with a time of 46.44.
1-Meter Diving – Men
Navy’s Finn Gelbach completed the weekend sweep of the diving events as the senior captured the title on the one-meter board for the second time in his career with 386.10 points. Gelbach finishes his career as a two-time champion in both the one-meter (2024, 2026) and three-meter (2024, 2026) boards. Fellow teammate Luke Ogren finished as the runner-up with 338.75 points and Boston University’s Zein Mahana rounded out the podium with a score of 332.75.
200-Yard Freestyle Relay
Army West Point’s quartet of Angie McKane, Tiana Mescher, Cora Webber and Molly Webber broke a Patriot League Championship record in the 200-yard freestyle relay, finishing in 1:30.76, eclipsing the previous record set by Loyola Maryland (1:30.83) in 2025. The Greyhounds earned silver, as Christine Datovech, Gianna Davis, Natalie Lomonsov and Haley Robinson posted a time of 1:31.61. Lehigh’s team of Caitlin Deitch, Gigi Michaels, Mairin Ludwig and Genevieve Cody placed third with a time of 1:32.05.
The Navy men’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Lachlan Andrew, Ben Denman-Grimm, Gavin Green and Preston Kessler shattered a Patriot League Championship record, clocking in at 1:16.80 and surpassing the previous standard (1:18.17) set by the Midshipmen last year. Army West Point finished close behind, as Johnny Crush, Ben Vorthmann, Kohen Rankin and Thomas Hadji posted a time of 1:16.96. Loyola Maryland’s quartet of Joe Hayburn, Brennan Coyle, Liam Schindler and Derek Feldman claimed bronze in 1:17.55.
The final day of the 2026 Patriot League Swimming & Diving Championships resumes on Saturday 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 27
1. Navy – 919
2. Army West Point – 814
3. Bucknell – 680
4. Boston University – 614
5. Loyola Maryland – 556
6. Colgate – 440
7. Lehigh – 422
8. American – 363
9. Holy Cross – 209
10. Lafayette – 193
Men – Team Rankings – Through Event 27
1. Navy – 1,220
2. Army West Point – 883
3. Loyola Maryland – 720
4. Boston University – 681
5. Bucknell – 590
6. Lehigh – 374
7. Holy Cross – 327
8. Lafayette – 293
9. Colgate – 247
10. American – 177
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.