SHENANDOAH, Texas—Day three of the 2017 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championship was highlighted by another national title in one of Denison's signature events, the 800 freestyle relay. Through 14 of 20 events, Denison trails first place Emory University by 82 points. The Big Red enters the final day in fourth place with 243 points. Johns Hopkins is third with 250 points and Kenyon sits in second place with 278.5 points.
Denison's 800 freestyle relay team entered the meet with the nation's top time at 6:34.29 which was a record time at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships. The defending national champs in the event went on to win in thrilling fashion, knocking off second-place Johns Hopkins with a winning time of 6:30.72. Walter Dauksher, who placed sixth in Thursday night's 200 freestyle final, started things off with a 1:37.43 split. Jack Lindell followed in a duel with JHU's Andrew Greenhalgh. Lindell posted a 1:37.40 split and when Stuart Hohm hit the water, Denison trailed by .50. Hohm gave the lead to the Big Red at mid-point of his swim. He posted a 200 split of 1:38.10 before handing things off to Ryan Stevenson who opened up a two-second lead to win with his 1:37.79 anchor split.
It marked the ninth time in program history that Denison has won the 800 free relay. It is also the eighth win for DU since 2006. Their winning time came very close to unseating the varsity record holders from 2012, Sean Chabot, Carlos Maciel, Spencer Fronk and Al Weik who won their national title in 6:30.40.
Denison junior Jason Wesseling posted his second-straight All-American performance in the event by placing second in the Consolation Final of the 100 backstroke. Wesseling would place 10thoverall after his time of 49.33. Wesseling placed fourth in 2016 and 41st as a freshman.
In the B-Final of the 100 breaststroke, Jake Ball earned his first career All-American certificate after his 14th place finish and time of 55.67. He dropped .21 off his time in prelims.
After the 100 breaststroke, Denison sat in fourth place with 203 points, trailing third-place Johns Hopkins by 14. Their finish in the 800 free relay propelled them into third entering Saturday's final day of competition.
On Saturday, Denison will take part in the 1,650 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 3-meter dive and the 400 free relay. Preliminaries will start at 10 a.m. CST followed by finals at 6 p.m. CST.
