Record-Setting Day One of NCAA Championships for Tampa Swimming

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - On Tuesday, the University of Tampa Men's & Women's Swimming teams officially kicked off action at the 2026 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship at the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Indiana. The evening was highlighted by a National Championship swim on the men's side and a new school record for the women.

In the pool named for Olympic gold medalist Lilly King, the Spartans swam to the gold in the Men's 800 Freestyle Relay, setting a National Record and winning their third consecutive title in the event.

The women picked up an All-America selection with their fourth-place finish, paired with a new school record.

Head coach Jimi Kiner on how his team performed this evening, "Starting out on the girls' side, breaking the school record and moving up a spot really set us off. And then the guys, breaking our own National Record and our anchor Nick Cavic going 1:33 as a freshman, it was one heck of a race. It was awesome."

Freshman Nick Cavic on his anchor leg performance in the 800 Freestyle Relay, "All season, Jimmy has been instilling this championship mindset in us, so going in I knew what I needed to do, I had no other option than to get my hand on the wall first," Cavis said. "I was grateful that my teammates and my coaches had that trust in me to bring it home."

Kiner, on how these performances set the tone for the rest of the week, "The relays are a huge confidence booster, and tomorrow is a big morning for us. You have to swim fast in the morning in our push to win the championship."

TOP PERFORMANCES (MEN)

• In the 800 Freestyle Relay, the team of Barnabas Fluck, Josh Noll, Jacob Hamlin, and Nick Cavic won the National Championship, setting a new National Record in the process, 6:16.64.

  • Barnabas Fluck (1:35.58)

  • Josh Noll (1:34.60 split)

  • Jacob Hamlin (1:33.32 split)

  • Nick Cavic (1:33.14 split)

TOP PERFORMANCES (WOMEN)

• In the 800 Freestyle Relay, the team of McKenna Patrick, Lindsey Louder, Laura Hodgson, and Avery Frece swam to a fourth-place finish and a new school record, obliterating the old mark of 7:19.43 with a final time of 7:15.49.

  • McKenna Patrick (1:48.49)

  • Lindsey Louder (1:47.89 split)

  • Laura Hodgson (1:49.30 split)

  • Avery Frece (1:49.81 split)

TEAM STANDINGS (MEN)

1. Tampa - 40 points

2. Drury - 34 points

3. Colorado Mesa - 32 points

4. UIndy - 30 points

5. McKendree - 28 points

TEAM STANDINGS (WOMEN)

1. Nova Southeastern - 40 points

2. Colorado Mesa - 34 points

3. Grand Valley - 32 points

4. Tampa - 30 points

5. Drury - 28 points