NCAA Division 3 teams are getting back in action this week. Many are returning to racing after training trips, though some teams remain idle. The NESCAC and NCAC conferences feature some important head to head match ups as teams’ first big tests of their winter training.
5 Top NCAA Division 3 Meets This Weekend
1. Rival NESCAC Women
Long standing rivals, Amherst and Williams Colleges race on Saturday. Last February, the Williams women claimed the NESCAC title while the Amherst women were fourth. The Williams College women return as the stronger team again this year, but the NESCAC season is still young, having just begun November first. Williams swimmers Megan Pierce and Lauren Jones have posted times of 5:04.58 and 5:05.29 in the 500 freestyle. Amherst senior Charlotte Chudy swam a 5:02.32 in the event last year. After an intense winter training, she could turn this event into a great race. Classmate Emily Hyde has continued her breaststroke dominance for Amherst while Katherine Bennett and Olivia Jackson are backstroke forces for Williams.
2. NESCAC Men Battle
This NESCAC match up will be even closer on the men’s side as the reigning NESCAC champions, the Williams Ephs going head to head with the runner up, Amherst Jeffs. In the backstroke events, junior Benjamin Lin has lead the way for the Ephs, posting the nation’s 10th fastest 100 backstroke time (50.01) and the 18th ranked 200 backstroke (1:50.46). The Amherst men are strong in the 100 Breaststroke. Sophomore Elijah Spiro has posted a 57.81 while his teammate Joshua Chen has swum a 58.15. These men should have a great race with Williams’ Jake Tamposi who swam a 58.29 this fall.
3. Hopkins v. TCNJ men
The fourth and ninth ranked mens teams will race, along with Division 2 West Chester, in New Jersey on Wednesday. In last year’s meet, TCNJ won by a mere seven points. The meet looks to be just as close this year. The 100 breaststroke race will feature the swimmers holding the third and sixth fastest times in the nation. TCNJ’s James Shangle swam a 55.07 in December while Hopkins’ Evan Holder posted a 55.73. Holder also holds the nation leading times in the 200 breaststroke and the 200 IM. Hopkins’ Andrew Greenhalgh is just off the NCAA 500 freestyle A cut with a 4:23.00. His teammate Kyle Otazu has posted a 4:30.02. These men will face TCNJ’s distance depth with three swimmers who have posted 4:43s.
4. Denison vs. DePauw Women
At last February’s NCAC championship meet, Denison claimed the championship while the DePauw women finished third. Expect some great races in this year’s head to head match up. The Big Red’s Campbell Costley holds the nation leading 500 freestyle time of 4:50.51, but the Tiger’s Angela Newlon is just behind with a 4:50.58. This race could be a preview of this year’s NCAC and NCAA Championship races. Newlon should have great races in anything she swims. She posted a school record 4:22.42 400 IM in December, though Denison has two swimmers who have also been under 4:30 this fall.
5. Denison vs. DePauw Men
On the men’s side, Denison also won the 2015 NCAC championship while DePauw was third. Two sophomores will battle in the 100 breaststroke as Tiger Mitchell Davis and the Big Red’s Brendan Howley are separated by just .06 seconds with the nation’s fourth and fifth fastest times. While Denison has significant depth in the 500 freestyle, DePauw swimmer Alex Grissom (4:32.74) should have a great race with the three Big Red swimmers who have posted times within three seconds of his.