WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College swimming & diving teams competed in their first meet of the 2026 year, downing both Chatham and Franciscan. The men defeated the Cougars 221-48. The women downed the Barons 157-65 and the Cougars 145-88.
 
The W&J women's team was led by junior captain Maddie Malone (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) and freshman standout Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin). Each logged first place finishes in all of their respective events.
 
Malone took first in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:16.53), the 100-yard freestyle (1:01.69) and the 400-yard IM (5:22.62). Caron took victories in the 50-yard freestyle (26.48) and in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:38.82).
 
Sophie Garrett also posted an efficient afternoon in her first meet with the team this season, adding two top finishes. She took first in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:07.31 and second in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:26.23.
 
Sophomore diver Amiyah White (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove Area) led the way in the 1-meter dive for the Presidents with a score of 169.95. Riley Gutierrez (Deer Park, Texas/Deer Park) worked her way to two second place marks in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly with respective times of 1:11.79 and 2:48.96.
 
Both relays were won by the W&J women, taking first place points for the Presidents. The unit of Garrett, Malone, Gutierrez and Caron raced to a time of 2:02.01 in the 200-yard medley relay. The quad including Gutierrez, Madison Mansell (York Springs, Pa./Northern), Garrett and Caron took first in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a mark of 1:51.46.
 
March Yuan (Simi Valley, Calif./Oak Park) led the way for the W&J men with a three first place finishes on the day. Yuan finished first in the 100-yard butterfly (56.88), the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.79) and the 400-yard IM (4:26.06).
 
Daniel Jeffries (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield Area), Nathaniel Harden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) and Micah Lohr (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) also finished with two first place finishes on the day. Aidan Marks, Ethan Glessner (McKeesport, Pa./Elizabeth Forward), Aidan Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep), Zach Lloyd (Dillsburg, Pa./Lloyd Academy (Homeschooled)) and Will Angus (Grafton, W.Va./Grafton) finished with a first-place individual victory as well.
 
The W&J men also took first-place marks in both the relay events. The unit of Glessner, Harden, Lohr and Marks placed first in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:40.11. The 200-yard freestyle relay unit consisting of Jeffries, Aiden Filer (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township), Glessner and Marks finished first with a time of 1:31.16.
 
The W&J divers return to action on Friday (Jan. 16) for the annual Rich Sentner Diving Invitational hosted by Westminster.
 
Top Finishers in Other Events
Women
200-yard freestyle – Sophie Talamonti (Flushing, Ohio/Union Local) (2nd) – 2:24.07
500-yard freestyle – Talamonti (3rd) – 6:37.26
1,650-yard freestyle – Andrea DeLong (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) (3rd) – 23:00.63