Wheaton College Swimmer Tess Boyer Heads to NCAA Division III Championships

Boyer returns to national meet for second straight year as lone CCIW representative

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:50am

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Wheaton College junior Tess Boyer is headed to the NCAA Division III national swimming championships for the second consecutive year, representing the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) as its sole qualifier. Despite initially struggling with swimming as a child, Boyer has blossomed into one of the top swimmers in Division III, setting multiple meet records at the recent CCIW championships.

Why it matters

Boyer's story highlights the remarkable progress she has made in the sport, overcoming early challenges to become an elite-level swimmer. Her success also reflects well on the swimming program at Wheaton College, which has produced a national-caliber athlete despite being a smaller Division III school.

The details

At the CCIW championships, Boyer set multiple meet records, cementing her status as the conference's top swimmer. She will compete in three events at the NCAA Division III national meet, including her best event, the 400-yard individual medley, where she has the fourth-best seed time in the country. Despite being just 16 years old when she enrolled at Wheaton, Boyer has thrived both in the classroom as a biochemistry major and in the pool, where she is aiming to improve on her performance from last year's national meet.

  • Tess Boyer started swimming at age 9, but did not put her head under water until age 8.
  • Boyer is a junior at Wheaton College.
  • Boyer is competing at the NCAA Division III national championships for the second straight year.
  • The 2026 NCAA Division III swimming and diving championships are being held this week in Indianapolis.

The players

Tess Boyer

A junior at Wheaton College who is competing at the NCAA Division III national swimming championships for the second consecutive year as the lone representative from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).

Meghan Ayers

The swimming coach at Wheaton College who has guided Boyer's development and preparation for the national meet.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really excited. This year, I'm a lot more prepared, and I know what to expect and I have some pretty big goals. Last year, I was more just excited to be there and see what can happen. This year, I'm hoping to finish pretty high in 400 IM and see what I can do in all my events.”

— Tess Boyer, Wheaton College Swimmer

“I think the NCAA meet was a big goal for her. Last year she achieved that, and it's kinda like now she wants to go and be somebody at the national meet, not just participating.”

— Meghan Ayers, Wheaton College Swimming Coach

What’s next

Boyer is competing in three events at the NCAA Division III national championships in Indianapolis starting on Wednesday, including the 400-yard individual medley, the 200-yard individual medley, and the 200-yard butterfly.

The takeaway

Tess Boyer's journey from a child who initially struggled with swimming to becoming an elite Division III swimmer is an inspiring story of perseverance and growth. Her success at Wheaton College highlights the school's ability to develop national-caliber athletes despite its smaller size, and her academic pursuits as a biochemistry major demonstrate her well-rounded talents.