Get ready, college swimming enthusiasts, because we're back in action! After a brief hiatus, the 2025-26 NCAA season is heating up, and we've got some exciting updates to share.
The Midseason Magic: A New Twist in NCAA Swimming
In previous years, January might have been a quiet month, but not anymore! The focus on recruiting top talent for the postseason has transformed this period into a crucial phase. Teams are now strategically adding star swimmers to their rosters, and the results are electric.
International Talent Floods In
This season, we're witnessing an influx of international stars making their NCAA debuts. One of the most notable additions is U.S. Olympian Alex Shackell, who's now part of the Indiana team. Shackell's hybrid training schedule, combining college and club teams, paid off as she broke the Indiana school record in the 200 butterfly (1:50.72) and dominated the 100 butterfly (50.98) in her first collegiate meet.
But Shackell isn't alone. Other Olympians like Mizuki Hirai and Anastasia Gorbenko are joining the NCAA ranks this month. Hirai is set to make her college debut for Tennessee, while Gorbenko has already contributed to Louisville's impressive sweep of Missouri. The Cardinal women also welcomed Swedish distance swimmer Thilda Hall, who competed in the 400/800/1500 freestyle at the 2025 World Championships.
Arizona State's European Connection
Out in the desert, Arizona State continues its collaboration with the Dauphins Toulouse OEC. Despite the absence of Leon Marchand, the Sun Devil women secured a major pickup in the form of 18-year-old sprinter Albane Cachot, the reigning European junior champion in the 100m freestyle. Cachot's NCAA debut was nothing short of stunning, winning the 50/100/200 freestyle (22.43/49.11/1:46.38) and helping her team defeat Grand Canyon University.
Record-Breaking Feats and Relay Splits
School Records Fall
Michal Chmielewski of USC made headlines by breaking the Trojan men's 100 butterfly school record, previously held by Olympian Santo Condorelli. Chmielewski's personal best of 45.08 is a remarkable achievement, especially considering he came close to this mark at the Texas Hall of Fame Invitational two months ago.
Freshmen Max Carlsen (NC State) and Falemana Tuufi (Kentucky) also made their mark this month, breaking their respective program's records in the 1000 freestyle and 50 freestyle.
Pool Records Shattered
The Ivy League is buzzing with activity, and several teams remain undefeated in conference dual meets. During a quad meet hosted by Navy, Mitchell Schott, one of last season's breakout stars, took down Michael Phelps' longstanding pool record in the Lejeune Hall pool. Schott's time of 1:32.72 was just a second off his personal best, showcasing his incredible form.
Across the country, Andy Dobrzanski erased Leon Marchand's mark at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in the 100 breaststroke, setting a new personal best of 51.00.
All-Time Lists Get an Update
The Big 12 sectional meets were a highlight this month, with the Sun Devils dominating the West edition. Junior Ilya Kharun, a consistent force for the men's team, stood out with his relay splits. Kharun's 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly splits rank 9th all-time, and he now owns an impressive number of top spots on the all-time lists for these events.
Torri Huske also made waves, setting a personal best of 52.56 in the 100 IM during Stanford's dual meet against UCLA. This swim places her as the third-fastest woman in event history, behind Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh.
As we dive deeper into the 2025-26 NCAA season, these midseason additions and record-breaking performances are setting the stage for an unforgettable second semester. Stay tuned, and let's celebrate the incredible talent in college swimming!
