Ohio Swim and Dive Sits in Second After Day Three at MAC Championships

Szoke punches ticket to NCAA Championships with third straight 200-yard freestyle title

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Ohio swim and dive team continued action at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships on Friday, with junior Szoke winning her third straight 200-yard freestyle title and punching her ticket to the NCAA Championships. Ohio sits in second place after day three with 360 points, trailing leader Akron's 511.5 points.

Why it matters

Ohio's strong performance at the MAC Championships puts them in contention for a conference title, while Szoke's NCAA qualification continues the program's tradition of sending top swimmers to the national meet.

The details

In the 200-yard freestyle, Szoke set a new Akron pool record with a time of 1:44.82 to win her third straight MAC title in the event. Other top finishers for Ohio included freshman Claypoole placing seventh and freshman Wittenberg winning the consolation final. Senior Szoke also set a new school record in the 200-yard breaststroke, finishing second. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Ohio team of Wittenberg, Szoke, Claypoole and junior Zionsville placed second with a new school record time of 1:29.70.

  • The 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships are taking place from February 26-28 in Akron, Ohio.

The players

Szoke

A junior swimmer for the Ohio Bobcats who won her third straight 200-yard freestyle title at the 2026 MAC Championships, punching her ticket to the NCAA Championships.

Claypoole

A freshman swimmer for the Ohio Bobcats who placed seventh in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2026 MAC Championships.

Wittenberg

A freshman swimmer for the Ohio Bobcats who won the consolation final in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2026 MAC Championships.

Zionsville

A junior swimmer for the Ohio Bobcats who was part of the school record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay team at the 2026 MAC Championships.

Akron

The host school for the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships, where they currently lead the team standings.

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What’s next

The Bobcats will conclude the 2026 MAC Championships on Saturday, February 28, with prelims starting at 10 a.m. ET and finals at 6 p.m. ET. Both sessions will be streamed on ESPN+.

The takeaway

Ohio's strong performance at the MAC Championships, led by Szoke's NCAA qualification, positions the Bobcats as a contender for the conference title and continued success at the national level.