GRANVILLE, Ohio (March 8, 2023) – With five NCAA Division III national championships under its belt since 2011, the No. 5-ranked Denison University men's swimming & diving team will look to add to its list of national championship accomplishments by bringing a total of 18 student-athletes to compete in the 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
The Denison men are coming off a second-place finish at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship in February. Over the course of the four-day meet, Denison totaled six event wins by five different athletes, and posted 27 all-conference finishes.
Elijah Venos earned two NCAC Championships with wins in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke.
In addition to seeking its sixth national championship since 2011, Denison is currently riding a 15-year streak of top-three national championship finishes and is coming off a third-place finish in 2022 that saw the Big Red rack up 30 All-American swims and 14 top-eight finishes.
Men's National Team Roster: Seven of Denison's 18 national team members in 2023 will be sophomores and six will be seniors. In all, representing Denison at nationals will be seniors
Eric Chimes,
Brendan Downey,
Kristian Kowalski,
Richie Kurlich,
Luke Landis and
Aidan Lane; juniors
Sam Myaard and
Richie Stewart; sophomores
Shea Card,
Lucas Conrads,
Patrick Daly,
Tyler Distenfeld,
Gavin Jones,
Max Soja,
Elijah Venos; and freshmen
Nick Fogle,
Owen Leary and
Josh Song.
Kurlich will carry the brunt of the work load for the Big Red by competing in seven total events, including the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 IM, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay and the 400 medley relay, while Daly and Venos will both compete in five events.
Below are which events each member of Denison's men's national team roster will be competing in:
Eric Chimes – 200 butterfly, 400 IM
Shea Card
Lucas Conrads – 1,650 freestyle, 400 IM
Patrick Daly – 200 IM, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 800 freestyle relay, 400 medley relay
Tyler Distenfeld – 500 freestyle
Brendan Downey: 3-meter dive, 1-meter dive
Nick Fogle: 3-meter dive, 1-meter dive
Gavin Jones – 200 IM, 200 breaststroke
Kristian Kowalski: 3-meter dive, 1-meter dive
Richie Kurlich – 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 IM, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Luke Landis – 1,650 freestyle
Aidan Lane – 200 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Owen Leary
Sam Myaard – 1,650 freestyle, 800 freestyle relay
Max Soja – 200 butterfly
Josh Song – 200 medley relay
Richie Stewart – 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay
Elijah Venos – 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay
Top Seedings:
Event 2 – 500 freestyle:
Tyler Distenfeld (16th)
Event 4 – 200 IM:
Richie Kurlich (1st),
Patrick Daly (9th),
Gavin Jones (15th)
Event 9 – 200 medley relay: Denison (8th)
Event 11 – 200 freestyle relay: Denison (16th)
Event 13 – 400 IM:
Lucas Conrads (6th),
Eric Chimes (14th)
Event 20 – 400 medley relay: Denison (8th)
Event 22 – 200 butterfly:
Eric Chimes (8th),
Max Soja (13th)
Event 26 – 100 breaststroke:
Richie Kurlich (4th),
Elijah Venos (5th)
Event 29 – 800 freestyle relay: Denison (9th)
Event 31 – 1,650 freestyle:
Lucas Conrads (5th),
Sam Myaard (12th),
Luke Landis (13th)
Event 37 – 200 breaststroke:
Richie Kurlich (6th),
Elijah Venos (7th),
Gavin Jones (15th)
Event 40 – 400 freestyle relay: Denison (6th)
NCAA Diving Regionals: At the 2023 NCAA Division III Diving Regional hosted by the University of Chicago on February 24-25,
Brendan Downey had Denison's best finish with a third-place score of 451.00 on the 3-meter board while
Kristian Kowalski was fourth on both the 1-meter board (444.80) and the 3-meter board (449.65). Lastly,
Nick Fogle was fifth in the 1-meter dive with a score of 444.55.
To view the complete list of participating individuals and teams, please see the Official Psych Sheet below.
The championships will be held March 15-18 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference and Greensboro Aquatic Center will serve as hosts. Live video and results will be provided by the NCAA throughout the championship. Follow DenisonBigRed.com for daily recaps.
2023 NCAC Swimming & Diving Championships Links:
2023 Denison Championship Central
Live Video
Tickets
Psych Sheet
Schedule
