Men's Swimming and Diving team wins program's 13th Ohio Athletic Conference Championship title

Men's Swimming and Diving team wins program's 13th Ohio Athletic Conference Championship title
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February 21, 2026

AKRON — The Ohio Northern men's swimming and diving team won its 13th league crown in school history after claiming the 2026 Ohio Athletic Conference Championship title on Saturday.

| OAC Championships Page |

The Basics

  • Record: Ohio Northern (8-0 overall, 4-0 OAC).
  • Ohio Northern finished first of five teams with 980.5 points after the 20 events.
  • Mount Union was second with 898 points, Wilmington was third with 417.5 points, Baldwin Wallace was fourth with 305 points and Heidelberg was fifth with 191 points.
  • Venue: Ocasek Natatorium — Akron, Ohio.

Meet Highlights

  • Senior Selby Wilt (Findlay) won the 100-yard free in :45.25, setting a school record of :45.10 in the prelims, to lead the Polar Bears.
  • Sophomore Austin Peace (Eaton) won the 200 breast in 2:05.40..
  • Sophomore Chase McCluskey (Pickerington/North) won the 200 fly in 1:55.05.
  • Freshman Braedon McMillen (Westlake) placed second in the 3-meter diving with 304.90 points to earn All-OAC honors.
  • Senior Max Etheridge (Ashley/Hayes) also earned All-Conference accolades with a third place finish in the 3-meter diving with 299.30 points.
  • Senior Simon Bopple (Cleveland/Shaker Heights) was All-Conference in the 200 back, finishing third in 1:55.76.
  • Senior Long Huynh (Billings, Mont./West) was All-OAC in the 200 fly, finishing third in 1:55.86.
  • Junior Nathan Herbert (Medina/Highland) was third in the 1650 free in 16:48.31 to earn All-OAC honors.
  • Wilt and McCluskey joined freshman Kyler Jablonski (Lebanon/Dayton Christian) and senior Nathan Clark (Cleves/Elder) in the 400-yard free relay to place 2nd in 3:06.26 to earn All-OAC Accolades. 

Notables

  • The meet consisted of 20 events over four days, including 13 individual races, two diving events and five relays.
  • The Ohio Northern coaching staff was named the Co-OAC Men's Coaching Staff of the Year.
  • Northern's victory is its 13th in men's program history and its first since winning 12 consecutive crowns from 2005-2016.
  • McCluskey becomes 12th Polar Bear all time in ONU history to win the 200 fly at the OAC Championships.
  • Peace becomes the 11th ONU male to win the 200 breast title. He also moves into fifth place all-time at ONU in the event.
  • Wilt is just the third ONU swimmer to win the men's 100 free.
  • Junior Evan Miller (Cincinnati/La Salle) was fourth in the 200 back in 1:56.26, moving him into 8th place all-time at ONU in the event.
  • Junior Grayson Morgan (Clyde) is now 10th in school history with his 2:08.05 time in the 200 breast.
  • The top three individuals and the top two relay teams in each event earn All-Conference honors.
  • Northern's 8-0 regular season record is the best in program history.
  • Austin Veltman is 44-20 in his seventh season as head coach of the Polar Bears.

Up Next

  • Season complete.