Men's swim relay getting ready at Halloween Invite Oct. 25, 2025

Meredith Mahoney

Swim and Dive Hosts Rose-Hulman to Open 2026

Titans return to Fort Natatorium for first time since Oct. 25

1/9/2026 12:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - After a two-month stretch of road competitions, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's swimming and diving teams will return to Fort Natatorium for the first time since Oct. 25, as the Titans host Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to open the 2026 portion of their seasons. The Green and White will meet the Fightin' Engineers for a dual meet Saturday, Jan. 10. Action is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

Illinois Wesleyan and RHIT have a strong history of facing off in duals. On the women's side, IWU owns a 13-1 record dating back to 2008, with its only loss occurring in the most recent battle Jan. 11, 2025. Then-junior Kayleigh Kuschewski (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia) took home first in the 200-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 2:40.85. Then-junior Natalie Porter (Danville, Ill.-Danville) touched first in the 500-yard freestyle (5:24.40) and then-freshman Isabelle Cano (River Grove, Ill.-East Leyden) won the 100-yard butterfly behind a time of 1:05.68.

On the men's side, the Titans eye their first win over a strong Fightin' Engineers program, as the two will face off for the 14th time. Last season, then-freshman Tate Thomas (Joliet, Ill.-Joliet West) took the crown in the 1000-yard freestyle after touching in at 10:40.88. Then-freshmen Ben Huk (Des Plaines, Ill.-Maine West) claimed the top spot in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:26.13), while Jacob Nacional (Bolingbrook, Ill.-Bolingbrook) completed the program sweep in the 500 free behind a top time of 5:12.60, nearly 13 seconds ahead of the field.

Within the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, the Green and White owns 17 times within the top-five. For the men, Thomas ranks fifth in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:47.21. Getting the Titan relay out quickly, senior Jay Jenkins (Aurora, Ill.-West Aurora) is fifth in the 50-yard backstroke, holding the fifth-best time in the CCIW with a mark of 25.27. The senior also holds a top-five time in the 100-yard backstroke, as his time of 54.64 is good for fifth. Nacional sits fourth in the 200-yard butterfly (2:03.48).

For the women's team, Kuschewski holds four times within the top-five. The senior ranks third in the 200-yard individual medley (2:18.93), fourth in the 200 breast (3:35.16), 400-yard individual medley (4:54.27), and fifth in the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.63). Porter sits second in the 1650-yard freestyle (18:20.54), third in the 500 free (5:21.87), and fifth in the 200 free (2:01.98). Junior Claire Paule (Godfrey, Ill.-Alton) also has a top-five time in the 1650 free, as her mark of 18:54.06 is good for fifth in the conference. Helping IWU relays get off to a hot start, junior Sam Borre (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-James B. Conant) ranks fourth in the 50 back, as she has clocked a 29.57. The Hoffman Estates, Ill. native also holds a top-five time in the 200-yard backstroke with her 2:16.06 touch good for third. Freshman Abby Schnittker (Lombard, Ill.-Willowbrook) has made an immediate impact for the Green and White. She holds the fifth-best time in the 100-yard freestyle (54.66), and the fourth-best mark in the 100 fly (1:01.00). Another freshman making an immediate splash is Ellen Hoover (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central), who sits fourth in the 200-yard butterfly after clocking in at 2:19.21.

The meet will be live streamed, which can be found by clicking here. Results will be posted on iwusports.com upon the completion of the contest.

Print Friendly Version