Geneva, OH — Niagara swimming teams delivered strong performances at the 2026 MAAC Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday, with the women placing third and the men finishing third in the final team standings at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH.
The Purple Eagles women accumulated 1,074 points, trailing champion Fairfield (1,325.5) and runner-up Marist (1,315.5). The men's squad tallied 1,139.33 points, finishing behind Fairfield (1,341.83) and Marist (1,276).
 
Women's Performances
Junior Natalie Killion led the way for Niagara's women, capturing the 200-yard backstroke title with a time of 1:57.38. The defending champion in the event improved significantly from her preliminary time of 1:59.02.
 
Junior Claire Gorton tied for first in the 100-yard freestyle, touching the wall at 50.96 seconds alongside Marist's Kennedy Wheeler.
 
Junior Alaina Pitton continued her dominance in the breaststroke, winning the 200-yard event with a championship record time of 2:13.98, just missing the MAAC record she set earlier in prelims.
 
Sophomore Marty Divis placed second in the grueling 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 17:09.39. Senior Ania Bodyl added a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke (2:04.76).
 
The Niagara women's 400-yard freestyle relay team of Megan Jackson, Gorton, Killion and Pitton broke the MAAC record with a time of 3:23.62, shattering the previous mark of 3:24.66.
 
Men's Performances
Freshman Vilem Mikula highlighted the men's competition with a victory in the 200-yard backstroke, posting a time of 1:43.74. Teammate Holden Brock, finished second in the same event at 1:44.81.
 
Sophomore Jordan Grab placed second in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 15:48.16. Marist junior Oscar Bjering won the event with a time of 15:39.33.
 
Sophomore Ethan Hunter earned first in the 200-yard butterfly (1:49.87), while junior Nate Eaton finished third (1:50.79).
 
Junior Thomas Latimer took third in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:58.36.
 
The Purple Eagles' 400-yard freestyle relay team of Brock, Jura Domanovac, Latimer and Mikula finished second with a time of 2:59.18.
 
Two Niagara swimmers Pitton and Mikula earned major awards at the championship. Pitton won women's most outstanding swimmer of the meet. Mikula was tabbed with both most outstanding rookie and swimmer, the first time a freshman has won both most outstanding rookie and swimmer in the same MAAC Championship.