The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams concluded their 2025-26 season at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships on Saturday, February 21, at the RecPlex Aquatic Center in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The meet saw five additional All-CCIW performances from Illinois Wesleyan athletes. On the women’s side, Dan Lloyd and Brooke Walker were recognized as CCIW’s Co-Coaching Staff of the Year.
Senior Natalie Porter claimed her second title of the championship with a personal-best time of 17:31.53 in the 1650-yard freestyle, securing her third consecutive win in this event. “Porter clocked in a personal-best time 17:31.53 to win the 1650 freestyle title for the third straight season,” according to the release. This achievement marked her as the first Titan since Meg Stanley (2014-2017) to accomplish a three-peat in this event.
Sophomore Tate Thomas finished second in the men’s 1650-yard freestyle with a career-best time of 16:19.87, earning his first all-conference recognition. Junior Sam Borre took second place in the women’s 200-yard backstroke finals with a personal-best time of 2:07.80, while freshmen Abby Schnittker and Ellen Hoover achieved runner-up finishes in their respective events—the women’s 100-yard freestyle and women’s 200-yard butterfly—both setting new personal records.
Other notable performances included senior Kayleigh Kuschewski finishing fourth in the women’s 200-yard breaststroke with a career-best time, and sophomore Jacob Nacional placing seventh in the men’s 200-yard butterfly.
In final team standings, both IWU women’s and men’s squads placed fourth overall, registering scores of 505 and 213 points respectively. Over the course of the championships, IWU swimmers recorded three event wins and nine all-conference performances.
Jay Jenkins and Claire Paule received their team’s CCIW RESPECT Award recognitions.
Illinois Wesleyan Titans women’s swimming and diving program hosts its home events at Fort Natatorium in Bloomington, Illinois (official website). The program is part of NCAA Division III athletics through its membership in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (official website), encompassing student-athletes across all undergraduate years (official website).
“Dan Lloyd and Brooke Walker were voted the CCIW’s Co-Coaching Staff of the Year on the women’s side.”
“Porter completed her title defense in the event on the women’s side.”
“In personal-best fashion, Borre earned All-CCIW honors, touching in 2:07.80.”
“Schnittker also earned runner-up honors…the freshman went one-tenth of a second fast in the final to edge out third-place finisher by .11.”
“The Naperville, Ill. native touched in at 2:14.29…to edge out third-place finisher by less than one-tenth of a second.”
The Illinois Wesleyan Titans continue to compete as members of both NCAA Division III athletics and CCIW conference play (official website).
