Northwestern Men's Swim and Dive Breaks 12 School Records at Big Ten Championships

The Wildcats finish fourth, their highest placement since 2006, behind standout performances from Stuart Seymour and Joshua Staples.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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No. 19 Northwestern capped a breakthrough week at the Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships, finishing fourth after breaking 12 school records across four days. The Wildcats' fourth-place finish marked their highest placement at the conference championship meet since 2006, when six-time Olympic medalist Matt Grevers led the team to the same result. Northwestern was led by strong individual performances from Stuart Seymour and Joshua Staples, who set multiple school records.

Why it matters

Northwestern's performance at the Big Ten Championships represents a major step forward for the program, which had not finished in the top five at the conference meet since 2007. The Wildcats' fourth-place finish and record-breaking swims show that the team is on the rise and poised to be a consistent contender in the Big Ten for years to come.

The details

Northwestern totaled 840 points to finish fourth, topping No. 24 Wisconsin by 7.5 points. Indiana won the team title with 1,544.5 points, followed by No. 12 Michigan in second and No. 11 Ohio State in third. The Wildcats earned third-place finishes in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard medley relay. Individually, Stuart Seymour placed second in the 100-yard freestyle, fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth in the 100-yard butterfly, all of which were school records. Joshua Staples posted fourth-place finishes in both the 200- and 400-yard individual medleys, also setting school records.

  • The Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships took place from February 26-29, 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin.
  • Northwestern finished seventh at the conference meet in 2025 before improving to fourth place in 2026.

The players

Rachel Stratton-Mills

The head coach of the Northwestern men's swimming and diving team.

Matt Grevers

A six-time Olympic medalist who led Northwestern to a fourth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships in 2006.

Stuart Seymour

A junior swimmer for Northwestern who set multiple school records, including a second-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle.

Joshua Staples

A sophomore swimmer for Northwestern who set school records with fourth-place finishes in the 200- and 400-yard individual medleys.

Tyler Ray

A swimmer for Michigan who was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Meet after winning the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events and finishing third in the 50 freestyle.

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What they’re saying

“Indiana University is red hot and the place to be.”

— Ray Looze, Head coach, Indiana University (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Northwestern's core group of swimmers, including Seymour and Staples, are expected to return next season, positioning the Wildcats to continue their rise in the Big Ten. The team's incoming recruiting classes also feature highly ranked prospects who should further bolster the program.

The takeaway

Northwestern's breakthrough performance at the 2026 Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships represents a major turnaround for a program that had been largely irrelevant in the conference for the past two decades. The Wildcats' fourth-place finish, multiple school records, and standout individual showings from Seymour and Staples suggest that Northwestern is poised to be a consistent contender in the Big Ten for years to come.