OCALA, Fla. — Niagara University's swimming program delivered a breakthrough performance at the National Invitational Championship, setting multiple records and significantly improving upon last year's standings.
 
The Purple Eagles men's team surged to 21st place, up from 33rd in 2024, while the women's squad climbed to 33rd after finishing 42nd last season.
 
Niagara swimmers shattered six team records and established one new Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record during the competition. The program recorded 18 personal-best times throughout the championship meet.
 
On Thursday, Niagara set three program records in prelims as Maria Mitova, Alaina Pitton, and Sean Finely set program benchmarks in the 100 fly, 200 IM, and 50 breast. Finley would go on to swim in the A-Final of the 50 breast, while Reid Tichy, Thomas Latimer, Michael Lavine, and Pitton each swam in B-Final events.
 
Friday saw Tichy and Finley reach the A-Final in the 200 free and 100 breast, respectively.
 
On the third and final day of the meet, Finley set another program record in the 100 IM and Tichy set a new benchmark in 100 back. Both, along with Natalie Killion, Levine, Lance Cruz, and Latimer went on to swim in B-Finals.
 
Pitton broke the MAAC record in the 200 breast once in prelims and again in the A-Final with a time of 2:13.44.