Calvin Men's Swimming Earns Three All-America Honors at NCAA Championships

Knights finish 12th in team standings, led by senior Charles Platt's standout performances

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:07am

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The Calvin University men's swimming and diving team concluded its impressive run at the NCAA Division III Championships with three All-America honors on the final day of competition, held at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Senior Charles Platt led the way for Calvin, securing a sixth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle, while freshman Jackson Merkel earned 2nd Team All-America honors in the 200-yard backstroke. The Calvin quartet of Platt, Detweiler, Merkel and Gabrielle also earned 2nd Team All-America accolades in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Why it matters

Calvin's performance at the NCAA Championships underscores the program's commitment to excellence and its ability to compete at the highest level. The Knights' three All-America swims and 12th-place team finish represent a significant achievement for the university, building on a strong legacy of Calvin swimmers earning national recognition.

The details

Senior Charles Platt led the way for Calvin, securing a sixth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 43.90 seconds. This marked Platt's third individual top-eight swim of the meet, adding to his earlier third-place finishes in both the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke. Freshman Jackson Merkel also contributed to the Knights' success, earning a 16th-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:49.25, earning him 2nd Team Division III All-America honors. The Calvin quartet of Platt, sophomore Carter Detweiler, Merkel and freshman David Gabrielle rounded out the All-America performances with a 16th-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay, clocking in at 3:01.73.

  • The NCAA Division III Men's Swimming and Diving Championships were held at the Indiana University Natatorium from March 18-21, 2026.

The players

Charles Platt

A senior at Calvin University who led the team with three individual top-eight finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a sixth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle.

Jackson Merkel

A freshman at Calvin University who earned 2nd Team Division III All-America honors with a 16th-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke.

Calvin University

The men's swimming and diving team from Calvin University, which finished 12th in the final team standings at the NCAA Division III Championships with a total of 100 points.

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What’s next

The Calvin swimming and diving program will now turn its focus to the offseason, with preparations already underway for the 2026-27 season. The coaching staff will be looking to build on this year's success and continue to develop a strong team capable of competing for national championships.

The takeaway

Calvin's performance at the NCAA Championships underscores the program's commitment to excellence and its ability to compete at the highest level. The Knights' three All-America swims and 12th-place team finish represent a significant achievement for the university, building on a strong legacy of Calvin swimmers earning national recognition.