UNCW's William Carrico Sets NCAA Cut, CAA Record in 200 IM

Seahawks face fierce competition as CAA Championships heat up

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:34am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic motion of a swimmer in the 200 IM event, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives capturing the energy and speed of the race.A cubist interpretation of the record-breaking 200 IM swim that propelled UNCW's William Carrico to the NCAA Championships.Hampton Today

At the 2026 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championships, UNCW swimmer William Carrico set a new NCAA cut and CAA record in the 200 IM with a time of 1:42.09, shattering his previous personal best and the conference record. Carrico's teammates also had standout performances, but the team race remains tight as UNCW's dominance is challenged by rivals like William & Mary and Towson.

Why it matters

The CAA Championships are a high-stakes event that showcases the top swimming talent in the conference. Carrico's record-breaking swim puts him on the national stage as he prepares to make his NCAA Championships debut, while the close team competition suggests the balance of power in the CAA may be shifting.

The details

Carrico's time of 1:42.09 in the 200 IM not only secured his NCAA cut, but also broke the previous CAA record of 1:44.13 set by Brian Benzig in 2024. On the women's side, UNCW's Maeren McGonigal and Gil Shaw had strong individual performances, with Shaw winning the 200 IM and the 400 medley relay team narrowly missing the conference record. Drexel's Theo Andreopoulos edged out a tight 50 free final, while Towson's Shannon Parrau and MaKenna Sharpe (UNCW) earned NCAA scores in diving.

  • The 2026 CAA Championships were held from February 25-28 in Hampton, Virginia.
  • Carrico's record-breaking 200 IM swim occurred during the championships.

The players

William Carrico

A swimmer for the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) who set a new NCAA cut and CAA record in the 200 IM at the 2026 conference championships.

Brian Benzig

The previous holder of the CAA record in the 200 IM, which he set in 2024.

Maeren McGonigal

A swimmer for UNCW who had strong individual performances at the 2026 CAA Championships.

Gil Shaw

A swimmer for UNCW who won the 200 IM and was part of the winning 400 medley relay team at the 2026 CAA Championships.

Theo Andreopoulos

A swimmer for Drexel University who won the highly competitive 50 free final at the 2026 CAA Championships.

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What’s next

Carrico will make his NCAA Championships debut in March, where expectations are high for the UNCW swimmer after his record-breaking performance at the CAA meet.

The takeaway

Carrico's NCAA-qualifying swim and the tight team competition at the CAA Championships suggest the conference is producing top-tier swimming talent that could make waves on the national stage. The balance of power in the CAA appears to be shifting, setting the stage for an exciting NCAA season ahead.