The WashU men’s and women’s swim and dive teams competed at the NCAA Division III Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina from March 19–22. The men’s team finished in eighth place, headlined by fifth-year Kyle Wolford’s individual national championship in the 200-yard backstroke, and the women’s team finished in 20th.

“The secret to success in sports is 90% mentality and 10% skill.” This is a commonly touted mantra in the field of athletics, where the top level is characterized by minimal differences in physicality. And swimming, the epitome of aerobic demand, is no different.

As their two championships approach rapidly with roughly a month left in their seasons, the No. 11 men’s and No. 15 women’s WashU swim teams faced DePauw University on Feb. 1, with both teams coming out victorious. In their final tune-up before the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships, the men’s team won 196-85, and the women’s team won 189-100.

In sports that are defined by endurance, the toughest section of a race or competition is often the last turn into the home stretch, with the finish just in sight — the infamous “turn three” in track and field, where races are won and lost. For the WashU men’s and women’s swim teams, their seasons are approaching this strenuous, demanding third turn. 

The No. 10 men’s and No. 14 women’s WashU swimming and diving teams fell to Division II No. 6 men’s and No. 17 women’s McKendree University, 105 points to 187 points and 120 points to 167 points, respectively, on Jan. 11.

The WashU men’s and women’s swim and dive teams competed in the D3 Shootout tournament at the University of Chicago on Nov. 8-9. The No. 9 men’s team finished in second place, and the No. 16 women’s team finished in third against some of the best programs in Division III. 

For Washington University senior Alex McCormick, becoming a national champion was a dream four years in the making.

Across four days from Feb. 14-17, the No. 14 ranked Washington University men’s and women’s swim and dive teams attempted to do exactly that, putting themselves to the test against elite competition in the 2024 UAA Championships. The women’s (1,162 points) and men’s (1,105 points) teams fell short of the UAA title, but placed fourth and fifth respectively, finishing in the middle of the talented eight-team conference.

The Washington University No. 11 Men’s and No. 14 Women’s swimming and diving teams were defeated by Division I Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) 127–95 and 143–93, respectively, in the teams’ final dual meet, on Feb. 2, before the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship.

The Washington University No. 10 men’s and No. 14 women’s swim teams defeated Division II University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) on Jan. 12. The next day, the Bears traveled to Illinois to face off against Division II McKendree University, producing mixed results. The women’s team defeated the Bearcats, but the men’s team fell to McKendree.