Between March 7 and 11, NSU’s women’s swimming team won the NCAA Division II National Championship for the first time in the program’s history. The Sharks were led by Emily Trieschmann, sophomore, who was named the CSCAA Swimmer of the Year. The champion-ship was a result of consistent performances from the Sharks throughout the season, culminating in a display of athleticism and determination at the championship meet.
Emily Trieschmann, sophomore, prepares to dive during the championship swim meet. COURTESY OF SHARK ATHLETICS.
“I knew a national title was possible when I joined the team in June, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up,” said Trieschmann. “I didn’t want to stress out.”
Emilia Ronningdal (1:47.06), Ilaria Murzilli (1:50.06), May Lowy (1:49.32) and Trieschmann (1:47.21) broke a meet record in the 800-freestyle relay on Day 1 to break Queens University of Charlotte’s 2015 mark of 7:13.65.
On Day 2, Trieschmann won the first of three individual events, setting a new meet re-cord for NSU and reducing her personal Division II record in the 1000-freestyle with 9:43.25. In that competition, Estelle Bauer placed seventh, Murzilli placed 10th, and Victoria Ortiz placed 11th. Ronningdal won the 200 IM in 1:57.78 as a follow-up. She was joined in the finals by Celina Marquez (10th), Savanna Best (3rd), and Lowy (7th). With a victory in the 200 medley re-lay in 1:39.90, Mollie Morfelt, Best, Aleksandra Maslova and Trieschmann brought Day 2 to a close.
Emilia Ronningdal, freshman, swims freestyle during a race. COURTESY OF SHARK ATHLETICS.
Day 3 began with Maslova and Marquez placing 12th and 15th, respectively, in the 100 butterfly. In the 400 IM, Lowy triumphed (4:13.80), and Best came in third. In the 200-free-style, Ronningdal (1:47.11) and Trieschmann finished 1-3. The 400 medley relay team of Mor-felt, Best, Maslova, and Ronningdal won gold to cap the evening (3:38.34).
With a dominant 4:45.56 in the 500-freestyle, Trieschmann won her second individual title to kick off Day 4. Additionally scoring were Murzilli (7th), Ortiz (11th), and Bauer (15th). In the 100 back, Morfelt and Marquez finished second and seventh, respectively. In the 100 breast-stroke, Best (1:01.13) and Claire Gass finished 1-3, and Ronningdal won the consolation final to place ninth. In the 200 butterfly, Lowy came in third, and Maslova came in 12th.
Trieschmann won the 1650-freestyle by 12 seconds in a time of 16:30.11 to open Day 5 with her third individual victory. In the 200 backstroke, Marquez finished fourth while Lowy finished 10th.
The IU Natatorium in Indiana is considered the cathedral of USA Swimming, and it was where Hewitt had grown up swimming. It was a dream come true for him to win a national title at the same venue where he competed. As a Division III Swimmer at Wabash College, he had never imagined that he would come back as a coach to win the national title.
“I experienced some true happiness with what the team accomplished as a group,” Hewitt said. “It was a release of energy and a lot of fun.”
The Sharks had finished third nationally in 2018 and 2022, and this year, the team was determined to take home the title. The Sharks won a total of 11 individual titles during the championship meet and amassed 536.5 points to take home the championship trophy.
Emilia Ronningdal, Ilaria Murzilli, May Lowy, Mollie Morfelt, Sasha Maslova and Savanna Best all won national titles during the swimming meet. The Sharks had a total of 12 NCAA All-Americans on the women’s team.
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