NAIA and NJCAA Meets Will See Familiar Contenders Clash for Title

Photo Courtesy: NAIA

The NAIA championships make their return after a tumultuous pandemic year that canceled the title meets in 2021.

Traditional NAIA programs will clash for the national championship.

In the women’s NAIA meet, Keiser, Olivet Nazarene and the Savannah College of Art and Design are the top teams, though Cumberlands, Milligan, Indiana Wesleyan and Lindsey Wilson also have extremely strong squads heading into the national meet.

SCAD won the NAIA women’s title two years ago, led by returning NAIA champions Allie Rassenfoss (200 backstroke) and Isabaella Song (200 breaststroke). In addition, SCAD also returns relay champions Spencer Sheridan, Anna Kate McGinty and Sloan Sizemore.

Keiser finished second at the 2020 NAIA Championships behind Emma Sofie Augustsson. The Norwegian backstroker won the NAIA title in the 200 backstroke two years ago and is back to defend her title.

She isn’t the only defending NAIA champion for Keiser. Ori Freibach won the 100 breaststroke two years ago, while Anna Herbst is a returning relay champion.

With the experience returning on both teams, the NAIA championship could be an exciting battle between SCAD and Keiser with Olivet Nazarene and others looking to crash the party.

Keiser will look to repeat, although one year later, in the men’s NAIA championships. The Seahawks had won their third consecutive NAIA title in 2020, cementing their status as a dynasty. But last year postponed the chance at a four-peat. Keiser, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA again this season, will look to keep the streak going.

Pol Roch returns and the junior has already put his stamp on the Keiser dynasty. Roch won the 400 IM NAIA title two years ago and was part of the winning 400 free relay. With several champions from two years ago having graduated, Roch will be the leader the team needs moving forward in search of another national title.

Keiser will have plenty of competition, too, as the Savannah College of Art and Design, St. Homes, Milligan, Cumberlands, Lindsey Wilson, St., Ambrose and Olivet Nazarene all have the chance to challenge for the title.

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NJCAA

The 2021 NJCAA National Championships were pushed later into the season with competition in late April into May.

But one thing didn’t change and that was Indian River State College’s dominance. Indian River swept both titles. It was the 39th consecutive women’s title and 47th consecutive men’s title.

That doesn’t look to change this year.

Aramis Rivera was named 2021 NJCAA Male Swimmer of the Year and returns as just a sophomore. Rivera was the leading point-scorer, earning 77 points for the IRSC Men’s team and claiming wins in the 100, 200, and 400 individual medleys, and placing second in the 200 breaststroke.

For the women, Lainie Rivas returns. She was recognized as 2021 NJCAA Female Diver of the Year last year and is a sophomore.

Indian River returns several All-American finishers from last year and looks to continue its unprecedented streak of championships.

Between Indian River and Keiser in the NAIA, it could be another familiar look at nationals.

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Stephen Harrison

2 years ago

Hard to call the NAIA’s meet a “national championship” when they fail to invite each of the top 16, or at the very least the top 8, NAIA swimmers for each scheduled event. Will they even have two full heats of each event? Shameful. Maybe just rename your meet the National Relay Championships. Or better yet, fix the problem and get the missing swimmers their invitations.

Swim Mom

2 years ago

Reply to Stephen Harrison

Couldn’t agree more….