No. 2/3 Hoosiers Advance to CSL Championship - Indiana University Athletics

Thursday, November 5

Indianapolis, Ind.

5:30 p.m. ET

Indiana University

College Swimming League - Wild Card

11/5/2026 9:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

INDIANAPOLIS – No. 2/3 Indiana dominated the College Swimming League Wild Card match Thursday (Nov. 5) night inside the IU Natatorium to clinch the final spot in Friday's Championship match.

The CSL's trophy match will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET from Indianapolis. The Hoosiers – who had perhaps the toughest route to the championship stage – will race against No. 8/1 Virginia, No. 6/4 Tennessee and No. 7/8 NC State, three teams that automatically qualified for the final from their first two matches. Fans can watch the match on ESPNU or via the ESPN+ and DAZN digital platforms.

Indiana cruised to victory Thursday night, scoring 592 points to outpace No. 9/7 Louisville (456), No. 10/8 Stanford (357.5) and No. 3/6 Cal (314.5). The Hoosiers won 23 of 30 events, swept eight events (men + women) and broke three CSL records in the IU Natatorium, just an hour away from their home pool.

Liberty Clark continued her CSL tear, winning the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle for the third time in as many CSL matches this season. Her performance of the night, though, came in the 200 freestyle relay. The second-year star broke her own 50 free program with her split of 21.15, a tenth faster than her previous best time.

Her classmate, Alex Shackell, had the busiest night swimming in her hometown. Shackell again swept her butterfly events, helped IU win that 200 free relay, won the Skins event and then helped IU win the Super Skins event to end the night. Shackell and Grana went one-two in Skins, surviving four consecutive heats of 50 butterfly.

Miroslav Knedla hit his stride Thursday night, setting CSL records with wins in the 100 backstroke (45.12) and 200 backstroke (1:37.77). His 200 back time moved him from No. 7 all-time to No. 2 behind teammate Owen McDonald. Knedla also won the men's Skins events, knocking out four rounds of the 50 back. He rescued an Indiana win in the 200 freestyle relay, coming back to win as the anchor leg.

Josh Bey won three events himself fresh off a great short course world trials last week. Bey started the night with a CSL record in the 200-yard breaststroke (1:50.73), knocking off Cal's reigning NCAA Champion Yamato Okadome for the second consecutive CSL meet. He followed that with victories in the 200 IM and 200 free.

Indiana's quartet of Grana, Anita Bottazzo, Shackell and Kristina Paegle have won the Super Skins event – four rounds of 200 medley relay – in each of its three CSL meets this season. The Hoosiers put up a time of 1:35.56 in the final heat, their best performance of the four heats.

UP NEXT
Indiana will race in the final match of the inaugural College Swimming League season Friday night at 4:30 p.m. ET inside the IU Natatorium.

@IndianaSwimDive
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men's and women's swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

#NeverDaunted