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The Top 10 NCAA Mid-Major Swimmers In Every Event Through The 2023-24 Conference Season

The majority of the top NCAA performers every season come out of the Power Five conferences—ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-12. But, there’s always swimmers from mid-major programs that make an impact on the national level.

In the pool last season, Laticia-Leigh Transom, Nicole Maier, Anna Kalandadze, Abby Daniel, Christie Chue, Ruard van Renen, Raunak Khosla, Brian Benzing, and Wen Zhang all scored at the 2023 NCAA Championships. In addition, each put up times ranked in the top-10 all-time for Division I mid-major programs.

Those performances inspired us to compile the top-10 swimmers from mid-major programs in each event, all-time. Now, ahead of the 2024 NCAAs, we’ve updated those ranks.

Note: Due to a lack of reliable data, the rankings are potentially missing times from the early 2000s and earlier, so if there are certain swims you notice are missing, please let us know in the comments below.

Notes on the Updated Ranks:

  • There are only five events that didn’t see at least one addition to the top 10: men’s 100 backstroke, women’s 1650 freestyle, women’s 200 backstroke, and women’s 100 breaststroke. In the women’s 200 breast Chue tied her personal best from last season. That means that 22 of 26 events (or 84.6%) had a swimmer post a new mark in the top-10.
  • Nevada freshman Scarlett Ferris posted the fastest mid-major time in the women’s 100 backstroke. Ferris, who hails from Scotland, swam 51.49 at the Mountain West Conference Championships to overtake the 51.59 mark Maddy Gatrall posted in 2023. Ferris is the only swimmer to post a mid-major top time so far this season.
  • Ruard van Renenthe 2023 men’s NCAA top mid-major scorer, transferred to Georgia this season. But SMU added Jack Hoagland and Danny Kovac from Power 5 programs to their roster, each of whom has made the top-10 in multiple events.
  • Ferris was the only swimmer to take over the top of the list, but two other swimmers logged top two times. Kovac swam 45.03 in the 100 fly and Brown’s Jack Kelly posted 1:51.62 top take over 2nd in the 200 breast behind fellow Ivy League swimmer Matt Fallon.
  • The men’s 200 freestyle saw the most additions to the list this season. The list got halfway rewritten with five new times making the list. Harvard’s Ben Littlejohn leads the way for the newcomers in 5th (1:33.24). Toni Dragoja (6th, 1:33.25), Mitchell Schott (7th, 1:33.37), Jack Hoagland (9th, 1:33.54), and Vili Sivec (10th, 1:33.70) are the other new swimmers on the event list.
  • The following events had three updates each: women’s 50 freestyle, women’s 100 backstroke, women’s 100 butterfly, women’s 200 butterfly, men’s 100 breaststroke, men’s 100 butterfly, and men’s 200 IM. Combined with the men’s 200 freestyle, that makes 8 of 26 events that had multiple additions to the list.
  • SMU, Princeton, Harvard, and Southern Illinois each had multiple swimmers crack the top-10.

Note: Times swum during the 2023-24 season are in bold. Teams are slotted as mid-majors based on their status when a time was swum. For example, SMU used to be in a ‘major’ conference, more recently has been in ‘mid-major’ conferences, and next season will join the ACC – a ‘major’ conference.

Women’s 50 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Anika Apostalon San Diego State 21.76 2013-14
2 Amy Van Dyken Colorado State 21.77 1993-94
3 Sofia Maksimova California Baptist 21.79 2023-24
4 Isabella Hindley Yale 21.83 2018-19
5 Izzi Henig Yale 21.93 2021-22
T-6 Emma Svensson FGCU 21.98 2014-15
T-6 Missy Cundiff William & Mary 21.98 2021-22
8 Anne May UC Santa Barbara 22.00 2007-08
9 Megan Burns Buffalo 22.04 2016-17
T-10 Delaney Carlton UNC Asheville 22.07 2022-23
T-10 Lisa Boyce Princeton 22.07 2012-13
T-10 Danielle Melilli Queens (NC) 22.07 2023-24
T-10 Sabrina Johnston Princeton 22.07 2023-24

Women’s 100 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Izzi Henig Yale 47.32 2021-22
2 Lia Thomas Penn 47.37 2021-22
3 Laticia-Leigh Transom Hawaii 47.39 2022-23
4 Anika Apostalon San Diego State 47.73 2013-14
5 Nicole Maier Miami (OH) 47.77 2023-24
6 Isabella Hindley Yale 47.85 2018-19
7 Martina Moravcova SMU 47.87 1998-99
8 Jackie Keire Cincinnati 47.95 2016-17
9 Franziska Weidner Hawaii 48.05 2017-18
10 Megan Burns Buffalo 48.14 2016-17

Women’s 200 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Lia Thomas Penn 1:41.93 2021-22
2 Martina Moravcova SMU 1:43.08 1996-97
3 Jackie Keire Cincinnati 1:43.19 2016-17
4 Miki Dahlke Harvard 1:43.78 2019-20
5 Nicole Maier Miami (OH) 1:43.90 2023-24
6 Martina Thomas Navy 1:44.07 2018-19
7 Zarena Brown Houston 1:44.33 2019-20
8 Nina Rangelova SMU 1:44.62 2011-12
9 Izzi Henig Yale 1:44.65 2021-22
10 Franziska Weidner Hawaii 1:44.73 2017-18

Women’s 500 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Lia Thomas Penn 4:33.24 2021-22
2 Meredith Budner Towson 4:34.56 2010-11
3 Cristina Teuscher Columbia 4:35.67 1997-98
4 Ellie Marquardt Princeton 4:36.37 2019-20
5 Anna Kalandadze Penn 4:37.21 2023-24
6 Alicia Aemisegger Princeton 4:37.58 2009-10
7 Flavia Rigamonti SMU 4:37.72 2002-03
8 Phoebe Hines Hawaii 4:38.11 2018-19
9 Genevieve Miller Air Force 4:38.98 2016-17
10 Emma Chard Boise State 4:39.22 2016-17

Women’s 1650 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Flavia Rigamonti SMU 15:40.41 2002-03
2 Phoebe Hines Hawaii 15:41.35 2018-19
3 Meredith Budner Towson 15:44.26 2010-11
4 Alicia Aemisegger Princeton 15:50.60 2008-9
5 Anna Kalandadze Penn 15:53.88 2022-23
6 Genevieve Miller Air Force 15:58.06 2016-17
7 Lia Thomas Penn 15:59.71 2021-22
8 Briana Emig EMU 16:03.51 2011-12
9 Kaitlin Burke Towson 16:04.30 2013-14
10 Ellie Marquardt Princeton 16:06.96 2019-20

Women’s 100 Backstroke

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Scarlett Ferris Nevada 51.49 2023-24
2 Maddy Gatrall Akron 51.59 2022-23
3 Elise Haan FGCU 51.65 2015-16
4 Kira Toussaint FGCU 51.68 2013-14
5 Celia Pulido Southern Illinois 51.82 2023-24
6 Laticia-Leigh Transom Hawaii 51.88 2022-23
7 Anika Apostalon San Diego State 51.92 2013-14
8 Alex Roberts San Diego State 51.95 2023-24
9 Therese Svendsen SMU 51.99 2011-12
10 Sam Wicks Boise State 52.03 2015-16

Women’s 200 Backstroke

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Samantha Corea Denver 1:50.56 2014-15
2 Weronika Gorecka Akron 1:52.43 2022-23
3 Felicia Pasadyn Harvard 1:52.56 2019-20
4 Payton Keiner Liberty 1:52.63 2019-20
5 Matea Samardzic SMU 1:52.69 2016-17
6 Morgan McCormick Denver 1:52.78 2016-17
7 Alex Roberts San Dirego State 1:52.89 2022-23
8 Ludwika Szynal Akron 1:52.94 2016-17
9 Susan LaGrand Oakland 1:53.12 2022-23
10 Ioanna Sacha Houston 1:53.16 2020-21

Women’s 100 Breaststroke

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Emily McClellan Milwaukee 57.76 2013-14
2 Delaney Duncan EMU 57.83 2018-19
3 Katie Meili Columbia 58.44 2012-13
4 Emily Escobedo UMBC 58.48 2016-17
5 Klara Thormalm San Diego State 58.68 2020-21
6 Ashley Danner George Mason 59.02 2011-12
7 Christie Chue FIU 59.10 2022-23
T-8 Franziska Weidner Hawaii 59.12 2017-18
T-8 Tara-Lynn Nicholas SMU 59.12 2014-15
10 Peyton Kondis Houston 59.16 2019-20

Women’s 200 Breaststroke

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Emily Escobedo UMBC 2:05.20 2016-17
2 Emily McClellan Milwaukee 2:06.78 2013-14
3 Petra Halmai FGCU 2:06.89 2020-21
4 Delaney Duncan EMU 2:07.38 2018-19
5 Paloma Marrero Munoz Akron 2:07.91 2017-18
6 Christie Chue FIU 2:07.99 2021-22/2023-24
7 Katie Meili Columbia 2:08.00 2012-13
8 Christiana Williams San Diego State 2:08.23 2022-23
9 Amanda Sanders Denver 2:08.24 2015-16
10 Klara Thormalm San Diego State 2:08.30 2019-20

Women’s 100 Butterfly

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Samantha Corea Denver 50.86 2014-15
2 Marne Erasmus SMU 51.10 2013-14
3 Kamryn Cummings Liberty 51.26 2023-24
4 Abby Daniel Akron 51.31 2023-24
5 Arielle Hayon Rice 51.38 2023-24
6 Andrea Ward UC Santa Barbara 51.47 2013-14
7 Katie Herrington UNLV 51.48 2013-14
8 Alex Forrester Yale 51.57 2012-13
9 Lisa Boyce Princeton 51.57 2013-14
10 Courtney Vincent San Diego State 51.60 2019-20

Women’s 200 Butterfly

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Sydney Harrington Navy 1:53.74 2020-21
2 Alex Forrester Yale 1:54.49 2012-13
3 Heidi Smithwick Princeton 1:54.62 2023-24
4 Alicia Aemisegger Princeton 1:54.84 2009-10
5 Blanka Bokros Blanka UNLV 1:55.16 2023-24
6 Cari Czarnecki Towson 1:55.25 2010-11
7 Abby Daniel Akron 1:55.50 2023-24
8 Miki Dahlke Harvard 1:55.51 2019-20
9 Christina Elmgreen FGCU 1:55.55 2017-18
10 Andrea Ward UC Santa Barbara 1:55.79 2013-14

Women’s 200 IM 

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Bailey Andison Denver 1:54.38 2017-18
2 Katie Meili Columbia 1:54.72 2012-13
3 Emily Escobedo UMBC 1:55.13 2016-17
4 Martina Moravcova SMU 1:55.65 1998-99
5 Franziska Weidner Hawaii 1:55.68 2017-18
6 Lauren Barber Navy 1:55.87 2017-18
7 Felicia Pasadyn Harvard 1:55.88 2019-20
8 Nicole Maier Miami (OH) 1:56.04 2022-23
T-9 Abby Daniel Akron 1:56.26 2022-23
T-9 Eleanor Sun Princeton 1:56.26 2023-24

Women’s 400 IM 

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Alicia Aemisegger Princeton 4:02.47 2008-09
2 Bailey Andison Denver 4:03.09 2016-17
3 Matea Samardzic SMU 4:05.52 2016-17
4 Yawen Li Nevada 4:05.56 2014-15
5 Cristina Teuscher Columbia 4:05.62 1997-98
6 Nicole Maier Miami (OH) 4:05.84 2022-23
7 Eleanor Sun Princeton 4:06.07 2023-24
T-8 Alenka Kejzar SMU 4:06.70 2001-02
T-8 Zsuzsanna Jakabos UNLV 4:06.70 2008-09
10 Anna Metzler UNH 4:07.20 2019-20

Men’s 50 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Alex Righi Yale 18.82 2008-09
2 Dean Farris Harvard 18.92 2018-19
3 Josh Schneider Cincinnati 18.93 2009-10
4 Colin Wright William & Mary 18.98 2019-20
5 Dillon Virva UNLV 19.07 2015-16
6 Remi Fabiani Cal Baptist 19.09 2022-23
7 Alex Santiago Southern Illinois 19.12 2023-24
8 Cameron Auchinachie Denver 19.13 2019-20
T-9 Matej Dusa Queens (NC) 19.17 2022-23
T-9 Sid Farber Denver 19.17 2019-20

Men’s 100 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Dean Farris Harvard 40.80 2018-19
2 Alex Righi Yale 41.71 2008-09
3 Cameron Auchinachie Denver 41.81 2018-19
4 Colin Wright William & Mary 42.01 2021-22
5 Lars Frolander SMU 42.12 1997-98
6 Remi Fabiani Cal Baptist 42.21 2022-23
7 Payton Sorenson BYU 42.24 2018-19
8 Wen Zhang Air Force 42.32 2022-23
9 Mahlon Reihman Harvard 42.39 2021-22
10 Alex Santiago Southern Illinois 42.42 2023-24

Men’s 200 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Dean Farris Harvard 1:29.15 2018-19
2 Wen Zhang Air Force 1:31.42 2022-23
3 Noah Millard Yale 1:32.85 2022-23
4 Ben Littlejohn Harvard 1:33.24 2023-24
5 Toni Dragoja George Washington 1:33.25 2023-24
6 Mitchell Schott Princeton 1:33.37 2023-24
7 Blake Worsley Denver 1:33.40 2008-09
8 Doug Lennox Princeton 1:33.50 2008-09
9 Jack Hoagland SMU 1:33.54 2023-24
10 Vili Sivec CSU Bakersfield 1:33.70 2023-24

Men’s 500 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Noah Millard Yale 4:10.62 2022-23
2 Brennan Novak Harvard 4:13.34 2017-18
3 Blake Worsley Denver 4:13.81 2008-09
4 Tommy Duvall Navy 4:14.04 2013-14
5 Logan Hotchkiss UC Santa Barbara 4:14.39 2018-19
T-6 Logan Houck Harvard 4:14.74 2017-18
T-6 Adam Wu Columbia 4:14.74 2022-23
8 Ben Littlejohn Harvard 4:15.20 2023-24
9 Kei Hyogo Yale 4:15.32 2017-18
10 Jack Hoagland SMU 4:15.61 2023-24

Men’s 1650 Freestyle

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Chris Swanson Penn 14:31.54 2015-16
2 John Cole Harvard 14:39.71 2001-02
3 Jack Hoagland SMU 14:44.08 2023-24
4 Kei Hyogo Yale 14:45.21 2015-16
5 Logan Houck Harvard 14:45.41 2017-18
6 Brennan Novak Harvard 14:46.17 2017-18
7 Tony Corbisiero Columbia 14:46.29 1982-83
8 Brad Gonzales UNLV 14:46.31 2017-18
19 Mitchell Huxhold CSU Bakersfield 14:47.18 2013-14
10 Shane Washart Harvard 14:47.51 2021-22

Men’s 100 Backstroke

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Dean Farris Harvard 43.66 2018-19
2 Mark Nikolaev GCU 44.33 2018-19
3 Ruard Van Renen SIU 44.67 2022-23
4 Anton Loncar Denver 45.11 2017-18
5 Jake Taylor BYU 45.34 2014-15
6 Landis Hollingsworth IUPUI 45.66 2017-18
7 Alex Bauch Queens (NC) 45.67 2022-23
8 Panos Bolanos UNLV 45.80 2022-23
T-9 Will Grant Harvard 45.82 2022-23
T-9 Caleb Mauldin Navy 45.82 2021-22

Men’s 200 Backstroke

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Anton Loncar Denver 1:38.62 2017-18
2 Dean Farris Harvard 1:38.99 2017-18
3 Kane Follows Hawaii 1:39.15 2018-19
4 Jake Taylor BYU 1:39.42 2015-16
5 Metin Aydin Hawaii 1:39.59 2017-18
6 Ruard Van Renen SIU 1:39.73 2022-23
7 Jacob Hanson EMU 1:39.87 2012-13
8 Jack Manchester Harvard 1:40.52 2016-17
T-9 Panos Bolanos UNLV 1:40.64 2022-23
T-9 Anthony Rincon Harvard 1:40.64 2023-24

Men’s 100 Breaststroke

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Brian Benzing Towson 51.25 2022-23
2 Ilya Evdokimov Cornell 51.32 2017-18
3 Matt Fallon Penn 51.45 2021-22
4 Jack Kelly Brown 51.58 2023-24
5 Kohen Rankin Army 51.62 2023-24
6 Fabian Schwingenschlogl Western Kentucky 51.66 2014-15
7 Olli Kokko Hawaii 51.71 2019-20
8 Josue Dominguez BYU 51.81 2020-21
9 Danny Kovac SMU 51.82 2023-24
10 Tonislav Sabev Delaware 51.87 2023-24

Men’s 200 Breaststroke

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Matt Fallon Penn 1:49.03 2021-22
2 Jack Kelly Brown 1:51.62 2023-24
3 Colin Feehery SMU 1:52.06 2022-23
4 Ilya Evdokimov Cornell 1:52.28 2017-18
5 Demirkan Demir Columbia 1:52.72 2022-23
6 Caleb Rhodenbaugh SMU 1:52.73 2021-22
7 Logan Kelly IUPUI 1:52.86 2022-23
8 Nejc Zupan Dartmouth 1:53.29 2012-13
9 Olli Kokko Hawaii 1:53.33 2018-19
10 Artur Osvath Missouri State 1:53.68 2018-19

Men’s 100 Butterfly

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Umitcan Gures Harvard 44.63 2021-22
2 Danny Kovac SMU 45.03 2023-24
3 Djurdje Matic George Washington 45.10 2023-24
4 Doug Lennox Princeton 45.12 2008-09
5 Philipp Sikatzki Cleveland State 45.37 2015-16
6 Jack Saunderson Towson 45.51 2017-18
7 Connor Lee Yale 45.52 2022-23
8 Jonah Harm Navy 45.58 2022-23
9 Lars Frolander SMU 45.59 1997-98
10 Kuba Kwasny Drexel 45.61 2023-24

Men’s 200 Butterfly

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Jack Saunderson Towson 1:40.44 2018-19
2 Raunak Khosla Princeton 1:40.94 2022-23
3 Jonathan Gomez SMU 1:41.98 2016-17
4 Danny Kovac SMU 1:42.02 2023-24
5 David Schmitt Harvard 1:42.17 2023-24
6 Alex Kunert Queens (NC) 1:42.34 2022-23
T-7 Thomas Glenn Brown 1:42.35 2013-14
T-7 Daniil Antopov GCU 1:42.35 2018-19
9 Jake Johnson Harvard 1:42.42 2021-22
10 Billy Mullis UC Santa Barbara 1:42.49 2017-18

Men’s 200 IM 

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Raunak Khosla Princeton 1:41.11 2022-23
2 Mark Andrew Penn 1:42.36 2018-19
3 Jake Taylor BYU 1:42.82 2015-16
4 Will Grant Harvard 1:42.83 2023-24
5 Brian Benzing Towson 1:43.13 2023-24
6 Metin Aydin Hawaii 1:43.16 2017-18
7 Mark Nikolaev GCU 1:43.43 2018-19
8 Colin Feehery SMU 1:43.45 2022-23
9 Mitchell Scott Princeton 1:43.48 2023-24
10 Matt Fallon Penn 1:43.63 2022-23

Men’s 400 IM 

RANK SWIMMER SCHOOL TIME SEASON
1 Raunak Khosla Princeton 3:40.04 2021-22
2 Mark Andrew Penn 3:40.28 2018-19
3 Jack Hoagland SMU 3:41.19 2023-24
4 Cotton Fields SMU 3:41.42 2023-24
5 Colin Feehery SMU 3:41.89 2021-22
6 Michael Zarian Harvard 3:42.66 2019-20
7 Kei Hyogo Yale 3:42.77 2017-18
8 Tanner Nelson BYU 3:42.87 2021-22
9 Iegor Lytvenok GCU 3:43.52 2014-15
10 Corey Okubo Princeton 3:43.95 2014-15

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CAASuperFan
8 months ago

William and Mary, Drexel, Towson and Delaware on this list is pretty impressive for the CAA as a conference. Obviously the Ivy League is the best mid-major conference but they’re in a league of their own, what’s the next best mid-major conference? Patriot league feels like it’s basically just Army and Navy, which are both very good, but doesn’t count for depth, MAC kinda meh, A10 is basically just GW, Horizon League is basically Oakland with a little IUPUI, WAC is pretty good?
Is EMU the only team on this list that’s been cut?

Coach Michael
8 months ago

RIP EMU Men’s Swimming

fifth year, hanging on for dear life
8 months ago

Cotton Fields sounds like a name key and peele came up with for the east-west bowl

James Beam
8 months ago

well done, this is a great list. Forgot that Amy Van Dyken went to Colorado State. And hats off to Tony Corbisero- I am too young to remember that swim, but wow, that is impressive from 1982….

Adriana Contreras
8 months ago

Limin Liu-200 Fly 1:52.93 (2000)

George
8 months ago

Kuba Kwasny does not go to George Mason

Klorn8d
8 months ago

GW had two entries as well, 200 Free and 100 fly

Aquabullet
8 months ago

Kwasny (mens 100 Fly) swims for Drexel

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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