INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 16, 2022) – Freshman Taryn Wisner set a new varsity record and won Denison's first national championship in the 500 freestyle since 2002 to highlight the opening night of the 2022 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championship. Throughout four of 20 events, the Big Red are in second place and are six points out of the lead. Denison has totaled 94 points while Kenyon leads it with an even 100.

It was a great start to the meet for Denison as in the prelims of the very first event, the 500 freestyle, the Big Red trio of Wisner (4:49.71), Alix O'Brien (4:52.43) and Tara Witkowski (4:53.81) finished 1-3.

Then in the finals of the 500 freestyle, Wisner (4:48.55) set a new Denison varsity record and brought home the gold with the first national championship of the meet on the women's side. Her teammates made it three Big Red swimmers in the top-5 as Witkowski (4:51.69) finished with the bronze in third place and O'Brien (4:52.77) was fifth.

It was Denison's third national championship in the 500 freestyle and the first since Tamara Carty went back-to-back in 2001 and 2002.

The trio of All-Americans gave Denison a total of 50 points after just one event, more than doubling up the second-place team, Tufts, with 22 points.

In the 200 IM prelims, another trio of Denison swimmers qualified for the B Final as Christina Crane (2:04.03) was 12th, Esme Wright (2:04.59) was 14th and Savannah Sargent (2:05.05) was 16th. Then in the finals, Wright (2:03.81) and Crane (2:04.34) swapped places in 12th and 14th, respectively, while Sargent (2:04.93) remained in 16th.

The benefit of having depth with three swimmers in the B Final proved itself as the Big Red increased their lead to an even 30 points over second-place Williams at 59-29.

In the 50 freestyle prelims, Denison put two swimmers in the B Final as Tara Culibrk (23.26 seconds) was 11th and Annalise Cheshire (23.41 seconds) was 15th. Then in the final, Culibrk (23.40 seconds) finished in 12th place while Cheshire (23.49 seconds) moved up to right behind her in 13th place. However, Kenyon put a pair of swimmers in second and third place, respectively, to move to within eight points of the Big Red at 68-60.

Lastly in the 200 medley relay prelims, Denison's group of Cheshire, Crane, Emma Pritchett and Natalie English finished sixth with a time of 1:42.64 before staying in sixth in the finals at 1:42.28. Unfortunately, Kenyon was able to overtake the Big Red for first place after winning the 200 medley relay national title with a new NCAA record time of 1:39.59.

Denison will return to the IU Natatorium on Thursday, March 17, for Day 2 at the NCAA Division III Championships ,where they will compete in the 200 free relay, 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, one-meter dive, and the 400 medley relay. Preliminaries begin at 10 a.m. followed by finals at 6 p.m.
 
National Championships:
Taryn Wisner – 500 freestyle – 4:48.55
 
All-Americans (Top-8):
Tara Witkowski – third place in the 500 freestyle – 4:51.69
Alix O'Brien – fifth place in the 500 freestyle – 4:52.27
Annalise Cheshire, Christina Crane, Emma Pritchett, Natalie English – sixth place in the 200 medley relay – 1:42.28
 
Honorable Mention All-Americans (Top-16):
Esme Wright – 12th place in the 200 IM – 2:03.81
Christina Crane – 14th place in the 200 IM – 2:04.34
Savannah Sargent – 16th place in the 200 IM – 2:04.93 
Tara Culibrk – 12th place in the 50 freestyle – 23.40
Annalise Cheshire – 13th place in the 50 freestyle – 23.49
 
Day One Results