GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 17, 2023) – Through 14 of 20 events at the 2023 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championship, the Denison University men rose up to eighth place in the team standings after a pair of First-Team All-American swims in the 100 breaststroke by Richie Kurlich and Elijah Venos on Friday. The Big Red have totaled 110 points, trail seventh-place Washington University in St. Louis (139) by 29 points, and lead ninth-place Tufts (100.5) by 9.5 points.

Max Soja kicked off day three for the Big Red with a 12th-place time of 1:48.27 in the 200 butterfly prelims; but then in the B Final, he ended 16th with a time of 1:48.91.

Denison had two swimmers qualify for the A Final in the 100 breaststroke as Kurlich was fifth with a time of 54.09 seconds while Venos was right behind him in sixth with a time of 54.23 seconds in the prelims.

Then in the finals, Kurlich (53.85) remained in fifth place while Venos (54.12) finished seventh.

The 26-point total gained by Kurlich and Venos helped the Big Red jump up from 13th place in the standings to eighth place.

In the 800 freestyle relay, Tyler Distenfeld, Sam Myaard, Patrick Daly and Lucas Conrads finished 11th overall with a time of 6:40.71.

With national championships in the 100 breaststroke and the 800 freestyle relay on Friday, Emory University leads Kenyon College 359.5-354.5 for the team national championship.

Denison will close out the 2023 NCAA Division III Championship on Saturday with finals in the 1,650 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 3-meter dive and the 400 freestyle relay. Preliminaries will start at 10 a.m. followed by finals at 6 p.m.
 
First-Team All-Americans (Top-8):
Richie Kurlich – 5th place in the 100 breaststroke – 53.85
Elijah Venos – 7th place in the 100 breaststroke – 54.12
 
Second-Team All-Americans (Top-16):
Max Soja – 16th place in the 200 butterfly – 1:48.91
Tyler Distenfeld, Sam Myaard, Patrick Daly and Lucas Conrads – 11th place in the 800 freestyle relay – 6:40.71
 
Day Three Results