GRANVILLE, Ohio (February 8, 2023) – The 2023 North Coast Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship got underway with the 800 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay and the women's 3-meter dive on Wednesday night at the Trumbull Aquatics Center.

The Big Red women got off to a tremendous start by taking the top two spots in the 3-meter diving prelims as Kerstyn Johnson finished first with an NCAA Division III provisional regional qualifying score of 472.55 (11-dives), followed by LuSi Minnich in second place also with a provisional regional qualifying score of 435.00.

Denison then kept its momentum going in the pool as the Big Red women's 800 freestyle relay team of Taryn Wisner, Quinn Brown, Esme Wright and Tara Culibrk finished first with a new Denison varsity record, pool record, NCAC record and NCAA Division III National "B" cut time of 7:17.09. Kenyon was over 10 seconds behind with a second-place time of 7:28.07.

Johnson (479.30) and Minnich (454.15) remained in the top-two spots following the women's 3-meter diving finals, both again with provisional regional qualifying scores, as Johnson captured her first-career conference title after finishing in second place in both diving events as a freshman last year.

Then in the women's 200 medley relay, Claire Moody, Christina Crane, Amber Croonquist and Grace Kadlecik finished second with a National "B" cut time of 1:41.85 while Kenyon just out-touched Denison with a time of 1:40.47.

In the men's 800 freestyle relay, Denison's group of Christian Narcelles, Ryan Foreback, Sam Myaard and Patrick Daly finished second with a "B" cut time of 6:37.51 while Kenyon finished first with a time of 6:36.43.

Lastly, in the men's 200 medley relay, Aidan Lane, Elijah Venos, Josh Song, and Richie Kurlich finished second with a "B" cut time as well of 1:28.24 while Kenyon was only .17 seconds ahead at 1:28.07.

Through three events on the women's side, Denison is in second place with 226 points while Kenyon leads it with 269 points. Through two events on the men's side, the Owls lead the Big Red 140-124.

The Big Red will return to action tomorrow, February 9, when they compete in the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, and the men's 1-meter dive. Prelims will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the finals to follow at 6 p.m.

NCAC Championships:
Kerstyn Johnson – women's 3-meter dive – 479.30
Taryn Wisner, Quinn Brown, Esme Wright, Tara Culibrk – women's 800 freestyle relay – 7:17.09
 
All-NCAC Performances (Top-3):
Kerstyn Johnson – first place in the women's 3-meter dive – 479.30
LuSi Minnich – second place in the women's 3-meter dive – 454.15
Taryn Wisner, Quinn Brown, Esme Wright, Tara Culibrk – first place in the women's 800 freestyle relay – 7:17.09
Claire Moody, Christina Crane, Amber Croonquist, Grace Kadlecik – second place in the women's 200 medley relay – 1:41.85
Christian Narcelles, Ryan Foreback, Sam Myaard, Patrick Daly – second place in the men's 800 freestyle relay – 6:37.51
Aidan Lane, Elijah Venos, Josh Song, Richie Kurlich – second place in the men's 200 medley relay – 1:28.24
 
NCAA Division III National "B" cuts:
Kerstyn Johnson – women's 3-meter diving finals– 479.30
Kerstyn Johnson – women's 3-meter diving prelims – 472.55
LuSi Minnich – women's 3-meter diving finals – 454.15
LuSi Minnich – women's 3-meter diving prelims – 435.00
Taryn Wisner, Quinn Brown, Esme Wright, Tara Culibrk – women's 800 freestyle relay – 7:17.09
Claire Moody, Christina Crane, Amber Croonquist, Grace Kadlecik – women's 200 medley relay – 1:41.85
Christian Narcelles, Ryan Foreback, Sam Myaard, Patrick Daly – men's 800 freestyle relay – 6:37.51
Aidan Lane, Elijah Venos, Josh Song, Richie Kurlich – men's 200 medley relay – 1:28.24
 
Day One Results