Vanderbilt Swimmers Headed to National Invitational Championship

Commodores Cowen and Hull Set to Compete at Prestigious Meet

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Vanderbilt University swimmers Melissa Cowen and Aubrey Hull are preparing to compete at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship in Ocala, Florida this week. Cowen, a junior, has emerged as a standout performer for the Commodores, achieving CSCAA NIC qualifying times in multiple events. Sophomore Hull will be making her second appearance at the championship, focusing on the backstroke events where she has found great success.

Why it matters

Vanderbilt's participation in the CSCAA National Invitational Championship highlights the program's rising profile in collegiate swimming. The meet provides an opportunity for the Commodores to compete against top talent and continue developing their swimmers towards the highest levels of the sport.

The details

Cowen achieved the NIC A cut in both the 50 and 200 breaststroke, and the NIC B standard in the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 200 individual medley in her impressive first season. She had Vanderbilt's highest individual finish at the 2026 SEC Championships. Hull is the school record holder in the 100 backstroke and ranks second in program history in the 200 backstroke. All five of her individual victories this season came in backstroke races.

  • The 2026 CSCAA National Invitational Championship will be held from March 12-14 in Ocala, Florida.
  • Preliminary heats begin at 8:30 a.m. CT each day, with finals starting at 5 p.m. CT.

The players

Melissa Cowen

A junior swimmer for Vanderbilt University who has emerged as a standout performer, achieving CSCAA NIC qualifying times in multiple events.

Aubrey Hull

A sophomore swimmer for Vanderbilt University who will be making her second appearance at the National Invitational Championship, focusing on the backstroke events where she has found great success.

Jeremy Organ

The head coach of the Vanderbilt University swimming and diving team, emphasizing the importance of this meet as an opportunity for Vanderbilt to compete at a high level and continue developing its swimmers.

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What they’re saying

“This week gives us another opportunity to represent Vanderbilt at a really high-level meet with a lot of great teams. We're looking for some great swims throughout the week, and I also think it's really important in our development as we think about where we ultimately want to be and how to receive to the highest level.”

— Jeremy Organ, Head Coach, Vanderbilt University Swimming and Diving (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The judges will announce the final results of the CSCAA National Invitational Championship on Saturday, March 14th.

The takeaway

Vanderbilt's participation in the prestigious CSCAA National Invitational Championship showcases the program's rising profile in collegiate swimming and its commitment to developing top-tier talent, as exemplified by standout swimmers Melissa Cowen and Aubrey Hull.