Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio, served as the backdrop for four days of competition as the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) swim and dive teams battled at the 2026 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships. From Feb. 25 through Feb. 28, the Eagles demonstrated a mix of veteran poise and freshman brilliance, finishing the meet in sixth place with 263 points. While the University of Akron successfully defended its home turf to claim the title with 771 points, EMU left the water with more than just a trophy—they left with new personal bests and a Freshman Diver of the Year.
Setting the pace: Early relays and personal bests
The championships opened on Wednesday night with a focus on teamwork through the relay events. The 200-yard medley relay team, comprised of Siporah Sang, Nina LaRosa, Tristen Mina, and Marlee Christie, secured a sixth-place finish with a time of 1:41.05. A fifth-place effort followed this in the 800y freestyle relay, where Azra Umut, Nehir Oz, Marianna Fardella, and Emma Littrell touched the wall in 7:22.36. Notably, Umut’s leadoff leg in that relay was a personal best 200y freestyle time of 1:49.06.
By the end of the second day, the Eagles had already accumulated 11 personal best marks. The distance lanes saw Nehir Oz and Azra Umut qualify for the 500-yard freestyle finals, with Oz eventually taking sixth place in 4:55.18, a significant improvement over her preliminary time. In the diving well, Rose Kendrick began her historic weekend by finishing seventh in the one-metre diving A final with 257.35 points.
Breaking records: Christie and LaRosa shine
Friday’s day three action was a showcase of speed and precision. Two Eagles, Marlee Christie and Nina LaRosa, moved into the upper echelon of program history. Christie, a native of Seminole, Fla., delivered a blistering 50-yard freestyle leadoff in the 200y freestyle relay. Her time of 22.83 seconds tied her for the third-fastest 50y freestyle in EMU history, matching the mark previously set by Madeleine Pilchard.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, Nina LaRosa continued her upward trajectory. After qualifying for the finals with a sixth-place prelim swim, the Bay Village, Ohio, native surged to a fourth-place finish in the finals. Her time of 1:01.25 was not only a personal best but also improved her standing as the third-fastest performer in that event in EMU history.
Other notable performances on Friday included Tristen Mina finishing seventh in the 100-yard butterfly and Emma Littrell taking 12th in the 200y freestyle with a personal best of 1:50.00. By the end of the third day, the Eagles held firm in sixth place, having added 60 points to their total.
Diving into history: Kendrick’s freshman crown
The final day of competition on Saturday was defined by the crowning of Rose Kendrick as the MAC Freshman Diver of the Year. Kendrick, hailing from Geneva, N.Y., is only the third Eagle in program history to earn this prestigious honor, joining Megan Lupa (2025) and Micaela Schempf (2018). Kendrick’s weekend was capped off with a fourth-place finish in the 3-metre diving A final, where she scored 279.30 points. Her teammate Aisling Gutierrez also reached the A final, finishing eighth.
In the pool, the sprint events remained a highlight. Marlee Christie continued her record-breaking spree during the 100-yard freestyle prelims, where she swam a personal best of 49.77. This mark stands as the new No. 3 time in program history. In the 1,650y freestyle, Nehir Oz proved her endurance by securing a sixth-place finish with a time of 16:57.54.
The meet concluded with the 400-yard freestyle relay, where the team of Littrell, Christie, Abbey Clarke, and Lucy Noble combined for a time of 3:24.31.
The road to Jones Natatorium and beyond
While the conference championships have concluded, the season is far from over for many Eagles. Qualified divers will now shift their focus to the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships, which Eastern Michigan will host at the Jones Natatorium in Ypsilanti from March 9-11. Meanwhile, select swimmers will travel to Ocala, Fla., to compete in the CSCAA National Invitational Championships from March 12-14.
As the team returns to Ypsilanti, they do so with a foundation of youth and record-breaking talent. With a Freshman Diver of the Year leading the way and multiple athletes now sitting in the program's all-time top 10, the future for EMU Swim and Dive looks as bright.
