Augustana Leads CCIW Men's Swimming & Diving Championships

Vikings poised for third straight conference title, but Wheaton mounts strong challenge

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Augustana College continues to dominate the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men's Swimming & Diving Championships, maintaining its lead through the third day of competition. The Vikings are on track to secure their third consecutive CCIW title, though Wheaton College is mounting a strong challenge and closing the gap.

Why it matters

The CCIW Men's Swimming & Diving Championships are a highly anticipated annual event, showcasing the top talent in the conference. Augustana's consistent success in recent years has established them as the team to beat, but Wheaton's emergence as a strong competitor adds an exciting new dynamic to the championship, raising the level of competition and creating a more unpredictable outcome.

The details

Through Friday's events, Augustana has amassed 749 points, leading Wheaton (616) and Carthage (521). The evening session saw Augustana win the 200-yard medley relay, while Wheaton claimed victories in the 400-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly. Augustana responded with wins in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke, demonstrating their depth and versatility. The competition remained fierce, with Wheaton closing out the individual events with a win in the 100-yard backstroke.

  • The CCIW Men's Swimming & Diving Championships are taking place from February 19-21, 2026.
  • The third day of competition was on Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Augustana College

A private liberal arts college in Rock Island, Illinois, and a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). Augustana College has dominated the CCIW Men's Swimming & Diving Championships in recent years, winning the last two titles.

Wheaton College

A private Christian liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, and a member of the CCIW. Wheaton College has emerged as a strong challenger to Augustana's dominance in the CCIW Men's Swimming & Diving Championships, mounting a comeback in this year's competition.

Carthage College

A private liberal arts college in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and a member of the CCIW. Carthage College is currently in third place in the CCIW Men's Swimming & Diving Championships, aiming to improve their position and challenge for a higher ranking.

Luke Rettig

A member of the Augustana College swimming team, who was part of the winning 200-yard medley relay team.

Jed Ritchie

A sophomore swimmer at Wheaton College, who won the 400-yard individual medley event.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The final day of the CCIW Men's Swimming & Diving Championships is set for Saturday, February 22, 2026, beginning with preliminary heats at 10:30 a.m. and culminating in the finals at 6 p.m. The schedule includes the 1650-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly, and the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The takeaway

The CCIW Men's Swimming & Diving Championships have become a highly competitive and exciting event, with Augustana College's dominance being challenged by the emergence of Wheaton College as a strong contender. The outcome of the final day's events will likely determine the conference champion, showcasing the depth and talent of the CCIW's top swimming programs.