Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, March 25
Atlanta, Ga.
TBD
Northwestern
vs
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Walt Middleton
Staples Earns All-American Honors, ‘Cats Score at NCAAs to Close Season
3/29/2026 8:10:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
ATLANTA - With ten Wildcats competing, the Northwestern men's swim and dive team tallied 39 points at the 2026 NCAA DI Championships hosted by Georgia Tech. Sophomore Josh Staples highlighted the showing, earning All-American status and helping NU to its highest team finish since 2008.
In addition to Staples, the 'Cats collected four Honorable Mention All-American finishes and set four new school records.
The season finale four-day meet started on Wednesday, where NU opened in the 200 Medley Relay. Stuart Seymour, Staples, Aaron Baltaytis and Oli Kós punched a 1:23.29 finish for 20th.
On Thursday, Seymour started the day strong for the 'Cats, taking 15th with a 44.80 finish in the 100 Fly. Kos competed in the 200 Free event, clocking in at 1:33.69. Connor Schuster, Seymour, Cade Duncan and Kós teamed up for a 1:16.33 finish in the 200 Free Relay, while Ryan Augustine notched a score of 283.90 in the 1M diving event.
Staples headlined the second day for Northwestern, with a record-setting preliminary performance in the 400 IM. The sophomore clocked in at 3:36.58 in the morning session, a school and personal record, to earn the three-seed in Thursday evening's finals. Staples took eighth in the event, claiming All-American honors. The podium finish for Staples made him the first 'Cat since Mike Alexandrov (2004), and second-ever, to become an All-American in the event.
Seymour got Friday off to a strong start in the 100 Back, taking 11th with a school record 44.55 finish. The personal best showing for the junior also earned his second individual Honorable Mention All-American accolade on the week. Kós and David Gerchik also competed in the event, earning 38th and 28th, respectively. On the boards, Augustine scored a 244.80 in the 3M diving event.
The 400 Medley Relay quartet closed Friday for NU, as Seymour, Staples, Schuster and Duncan swam a 3:02.18 race for 12th-place and Honorable Mention All-American honors.
The 'Cats closed their championship showing with two more school records set on Saturday, in the 100 Free and 400 Free Relay. Seymour swam a 41.76 in the 100 Free for a personal best time and 21st-place finish. The junior joined Duncan, Schuster and Kós for a 12th-place finish in the 400 Free Relay, posting a 2:47.72 record time.
Staples concluded his week with the 200 IM, finishing in 1:47.96. In the 200 Back event, Kós and Gerchik took 18th and 30th, respectively. Finally, Kyle Ly and Adam Cohen competed in the platform diving event, both finishing in the top-24. Cohen scored a 348.30 for 17th, while Ly earned a 329.70 final score for 23rd.
Northwestern finished in 26th in team scoring, the highest for the program since 2008.
In addition to Staples, the 'Cats collected four Honorable Mention All-American finishes and set four new school records.
The season finale four-day meet started on Wednesday, where NU opened in the 200 Medley Relay. Stuart Seymour, Staples, Aaron Baltaytis and Oli Kós punched a 1:23.29 finish for 20th.
On Thursday, Seymour started the day strong for the 'Cats, taking 15th with a 44.80 finish in the 100 Fly. Kos competed in the 200 Free event, clocking in at 1:33.69. Connor Schuster, Seymour, Cade Duncan and Kós teamed up for a 1:16.33 finish in the 200 Free Relay, while Ryan Augustine notched a score of 283.90 in the 1M diving event.
Staples headlined the second day for Northwestern, with a record-setting preliminary performance in the 400 IM. The sophomore clocked in at 3:36.58 in the morning session, a school and personal record, to earn the three-seed in Thursday evening's finals. Staples took eighth in the event, claiming All-American honors. The podium finish for Staples made him the first 'Cat since Mike Alexandrov (2004), and second-ever, to become an All-American in the event.
The first 'Cat since ???????? to finish on the NCAA Men's 400 IM podium ???? pic.twitter.com/EFkfSjpToo
— Northwestern Swimming & Diving (@NUSwimDive) March 27, 2026
Seymour got Friday off to a strong start in the 100 Back, taking 11th with a school record 44.55 finish. The personal best showing for the junior also earned his second individual Honorable Mention All-American accolade on the week. Kós and David Gerchik also competed in the event, earning 38th and 28th, respectively. On the boards, Augustine scored a 244.80 in the 3M diving event.
The 400 Medley Relay quartet closed Friday for NU, as Seymour, Staples, Schuster and Duncan swam a 3:02.18 race for 12th-place and Honorable Mention All-American honors.
????? 400 Medley Relay:
— Northwestern Swimming & Diving (@NUSwimDive) March 28, 2026
Seymour, Staples, Schuster + Duncan clock in at 3:02.18 ?? >> The 'Cats claim 12th and an Honorable Mention All-American finish ???? pic.twitter.com/CYFf1Z06d7
The 'Cats closed their championship showing with two more school records set on Saturday, in the 100 Free and 400 Free Relay. Seymour swam a 41.76 in the 100 Free for a personal best time and 21st-place finish. The junior joined Duncan, Schuster and Kós for a 12th-place finish in the 400 Free Relay, posting a 2:47.72 record time.
Staples concluded his week with the 200 IM, finishing in 1:47.96. In the 200 Back event, Kós and Gerchik took 18th and 30th, respectively. Finally, Kyle Ly and Adam Cohen competed in the platform diving event, both finishing in the top-24. Cohen scored a 348.30 for 17th, while Ly earned a 329.70 final score for 23rd.
Adam Cohen takes 17th ??
— Northwestern Swimming & Diving (@NUSwimDive) March 29, 2026
The jr. scored 348.30 in the Platform dive event ?? pic.twitter.com/kMrWyCg5Sg
Northwestern finished in 26th in team scoring, the highest for the program since 2008.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
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