No. 3 Indiana Eyes Fifth Consecutive Big Ten Title

Wednesday, February 25

Madison, Wis.

Indiana University

Big Ten Championships

No. 3 Indiana Eyes Fifth Consecutive Big Ten Title

2/23/2026 2:30:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving

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MADISON, Wis. – Indiana men's swimming and diving is once again the favorite to win at the 2026 Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships this week (Feb. 25-28) inside the Soderholm Family Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin.

The meet kicks off Wednesday (Feb. 25) at 5 p.m. ET with the 200-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relays before three full days of action Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Preliminaries will begin each of the final three days at 11 a.m. ET, setting up for finals each evening at 6 p.m. Fans can watch the meet via the B1G+ digital platform.

Indiana is the highest-ranked group in the conference, holding steady at No. 3 in the CSCAA poll since November. They will go up against No. 11 Ohio State, No. 12 Michigan, No. 15 USC, No. 19 Northwestern, No. 24 Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State and Purdue.

IU captured its 31st and fourth consecutive Big Ten title in 2025 with a 431-point gap ahead of the field – the largest margin of victory in conference history. Over the four-day meet, the Hoosiers won 11 Big Ten Championships, earned 26 medals, set three Big Ten records and six meet records. Then-junior Owen McDonald was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships after sweeping his individual events: the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard IM.

McDonald and sophomore Miroslav Knedla both return after finishing first and second, respectively in both the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke. Sophomore Raekwon Noel can add further depth in the events, holding top five times in the Big Ten in both distances as well as the 100-yard butterfly.

Indiana won't be able to replicate its unprecedented dominance in the breaststroke events last season – winning the top five positions in the 100 breast and the top four positions in the 200 breast – after losing all six of the contributing swimmers to graduation, but there is still plenty to be excited for at "Breaststroke U." Sophomore Alexei Avakov ranks No. 3 in the 100 breast this season with a 51.34, and freshmen Noah Cakir and Josh Bey each have top five times in the 200 breast.

This year, Indiana can assert its dominance in the distance events. Senior and two-time reigning NCAA 1,650 freestyle champion Zalán Sárkány owns the conference's top times in that event (14:23.85 – just 2.56 off his Big Ten record time) and the 500 free (4:09.57). IU owns the Big Ten's three best times in the 1,650 free between Sárkány, sophomore Luke Whitlock (14:37.47) and freshman Luke Ellis (14:45.59). Whitlock also has the fourth-best 500 free (4:11.82) this season, behind Sárkány and classmate Aaron Shackell (4:11.14).

Despite graduating two national champion divers in Quinn Henninger and Carson Tyler, the Hoosiers can still make a difference in the well. Sophomore Joshua Sollenberger has been one of the best springboard divers this season, and the 2024 NCAA runner-up on platform, senior Maxwell Weinrich, is the man to beat on the final day.

Boasting high-performing talent and depth, Indiana is the top seed in four of the five relays. IU ranks No. 3 in the conference in the 800-yard freestyle relay, though its time (6:13.01) sits within eight tenths of Ohio State's mark (6:12.23).

MEET INFO
Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Saturday, Feb. 28 • 11 a.m. ET (prelims), 6 p.m. (finals)
Soderholm Family Aquatic Center • Madison, Wis.
Live Results (Swimming): https://bit.ly/4tzAROR/Meet Mobile (App)
Live Results (Diving): divemeets.com
Live Stream: B1G+

OF NOTE…
PODIUM WATCH – HOOSIERS WITH TOP FIVE MARKS IN BIG TEN
Alexei Avakov – 100 breast (51.34)
Josh Bey – 200 breast (1:52.51)
Noah Cakir – 200 breast (1:51.68)
Luke Ellis – 1,650 free (14:45.59)
Miroslav Knedla – 100 back (44.78), 200 back (1:39.91)
Mikkel Lee – 50 free (19.03), 100 free (41.96)
Owen McDonald – 100 back (44.13), 100 fly (44.68), 200 IM (1:40.90)
Raekwon Noel – 100 back (44.91), 200 back (1:40.63), 100 fly (45.28)
Zalán Sárkány – 500 free (4:09.57), 1,650 free (14:23.85), 400 IM (3:39.73)
Drew Smiley – 50 free (19.23), 100 free (41.59)
Joshua Sollenberger – 1-meter (367.00), 3-meter (422.60)
Aaron Shackell – 200 free (1:32.29), 500 free (4:11.14)
Maxwell Weinrich – 3-meter (406.10), platform (467.65)
Luke Whitlock – 500 free (4:11.82), 1,650 free (1:37.47)

BIG TEN MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
Indiana has won 31 Big Ten Championships including the last four, seven of the last nine and eight since the beginning of head swimming coach Ray Looze's tenure. The Hoosiers have also managed 15 consecutive top three finishes going back to 2011.

IU athletes have combined for 406 Big Ten Championships including 236 swimming titles, 83 relay championships and 60 diving titles.

@IndianaSwimDive
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