The 2026 NAIA National Championships Day 4 Finals Live Recap: Keiser Sweeps Dual Titles, Luiza Bersi Claims Third Individual Title
The 2026 NAIA National Championships continued on Day 4, with Keiser University swimming team showcasing their prowess by securing dual titles, while Luiza Bersi of Keiser claimed her third individual title. The event, held at the Elkhart Aquatic Center in Elkhart, IN, witnessed intense competition across various swimming and diving events.
Women's 1650 Freestyle Finals
Riley Renaud of Milligan University emerged as the NAIA champion in the 1650-yard freestyle, clocking an impressive 16:59.85. This victory marks her second consecutive title in this event. Renaud's performance was characterized by a controlled and steady pace, allowing her to build a two-body length lead by the 500-yard mark and maintain her advantage throughout the race. Her final 200 yards were particularly noteworthy, as she descended the final four 50-yard segments to touch the wall just under the 17-minute mark, marking the first time in her career.
Behind Renaud, a trio of swimmers, Lena Gerl, Juliana Lopez Morales, and Bella Hoare, battled for second place. By the 500-yard mark, Hoare began to fall behind as Gerl pulled ahead of Lopez Morales. Gerl's consistent pace allowed her to separate herself in the race for second place, eventually setting a personal best of 17:07.46. Lopez Morales finished over 10 seconds behind, securing third place with a time of 17:17.99.
Defending champion Sky Marjamaa, who won last year, finished in fifth place with a time of 17:39.83, slightly off her previous year's performance. Anna Van DeKeere made a move into the top eight from the early heats, showcasing her versatility.
Men's 1650 Freestyle Finals
In the men's 1650-yard freestyle, Alan Gonzalez Torres of St. Thomas University emerged as the champion with a time of 15:30.13, setting a new personal best and leading a dominant performance. Torres held a steady lead throughout the race, eventually pulling away from his competitors. His performance was particularly impressive, as he dropped 0.77 seconds from his entry time, showcasing his exceptional swimming skills.
Behind Torres, Sergio Ybarra of Lindsey Wilson College closed the gap, finishing in a season-best time of 15:31.77. Jamarr Bruno of Keiser University rounded out the podium with a time of 15:40.28.
Three swimmers from the early heats, Braedan Jacobs, Gerard Labernia Oms, and Oliver Greaves, made their mark by placing 6th through 8th in the overall standings, demonstrating their consistency and determination.
Women's 200 Backstroke Finals
In the women's 200-yard backstroke, Natalia Janiszewska of Keiser University claimed the title with a new best time of 1:58.47, securing her second title at this meet. Janiszewska's performance was characterized by a strong start, as she pulled even with Sophie Bell after the third turn. Once she took the lead, she maintained her advantage, showcasing her endurance and technique.
Rachel Bradley of Keiser University finished in second place with a time of 1:59.40, while Jette Haedicke of SCAD secured third place with a time of 1:59.56.
Men's 200 Backstroke Finals
The men's 200-yard backstroke witnessed a thrilling race, with Brandon Holder of Cumberlands University emerging as the champion with a time of 1:45.61. Cumberlands University dominated the backstroke events, showcasing their team's strength.
Kervens Warnon of St. Thomas University, the top prelims qualifier, made a strong surge on the penultimate 25-yard segment but finished just behind Holder. Warnon still managed to set a personal best with a time of 1:46.08.
Marcel Setlak of Keiser University finished ahead of 100-yard backstroke champion Ruthiik Satti by a mere 0.10 seconds, showcasing their versatility and skill.
Women's 100 Freestyle Finals
In the women's 100-yard freestyle, Katherine Dyer of Masters University claimed the NAIA title, leading wire-to-wire with a time of 49.64. Dyer's performance was characterized by a strong start, as she hit the 50-yard turn in 24.09 and maintained her lead throughout the race.
Dyer was joined under the 50-second barrier by Valle Gonzalez Ares of SCAD, who trailed closely behind her. The two swimmers finished side by side, separated by just 0.15 seconds.
Jaylyn Harrison of Bethel University rounded out the top three with a time of 51.10, winning a close battle with Megan Sutanto of Masters University, who finished just behind her.
Men's 100 Freestyle Finals
Levente Mozsarik of SCAD University claimed his second individual title, sweeping the sprint free events with a time of 42.85. Mozsarik's performance was characterized by his exceptional speed and technique, allowing him to dominate the race.
Mozsarik's teammate, Zoltan Tompos, finished just behind him with a time of 43.60, showcasing the strength of the SCAD swimming team.
Titouan Bernot of Cumberlands University finished just 0.14 seconds behind Tompos, while Alexander Poulsen of Cumberlands University finished 4th by the slimmest of margins over Cory Werrett of St. Ambrose University.
Women's 200 Breaststroke Finals
Nikki Hahn of SCAD University completed the breaststroke sweep at the championships with a dominant performance in the 200-yard breaststroke, finishing with a time of 2:13.87. Hahn's performance was characterized by her consistent pace and powerful strokes, allowing her to maintain a nearly six-second margin of victory.
Behind Hahn, Megan Schoenlein and Louise Jones of Cumberlands University engaged in an intense duel for second place. Jones led through the 150-yard mark, but Schoenlein found an extra gear on the final 50 yards, closing the gap and touching the wall first with a time of 2:19.81.
Men's 200 Breaststroke Finals
Noel de Geus of Keiser University continued his dominance in the breaststroke events, winning his third straight title in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:56.47, just a day after setting an NAIA record in the 100-yard breaststroke.
De Geus led from start to finish, stopping the clock less than two tenths of a second shy of his meet record from 2024. His performance showcased his exceptional technique and endurance.
Milligan University teammates Caleb Fry and Elijah Holliman finished in second and third places, respectively, with times of 1:57.37 and 1:58.32. Holliman's victory at the touch over Evan Nail of Masters University further highlighted the team's strength.
Women's 200 Butterfly Finals
Luiza Bersi of Keiser University maintained her perfect record in individual events, winning the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:00.91, just 0.02 seconds shy of the NAIA record. Bersi's performance was characterized by her steady pace and powerful strokes, showcasing her versatility and skill.
2025 champion Kayla Parry of Olivet Nazarene pushed the pace at the start, hitting the 50-yard mark in the fastest time. However, Bersi quickly reeled her in and extended her lead, finishing in 2:04.79, a season best. The pair's 1-2 finish last year was reversed this time.
Sarah Zoellner of Cumberlands University repeated her 2025 placement, finishing in third place with a time of 2:06.53.
Men's 200 Butterfly Finals
Isaiah Aleksenko of Keiser University concluded the individual swimming events with a victory in the 200-yard butterfly, touching the wall in 1:43.37. Aleksenko's performance was characterized by his exceptional technique and endurance, allowing him to clear the rest of the field by over two seconds.
Izaiah Trevino-Iozano of Masters University recorded his second runner-up finish, while Nedas Giedraitis of William Carey University claimed his highest individual finish of the meet, rounding out the podium.
In other events, the women's 1-meter diving finals saw Macy Schmidtgall of Indiana Wesleyan University emerge as the champion with a score of 227.60. The women's 400-yard freestyle relay was won by Keiser University, while the men's 400-yard freestyle relay was claimed by Keiser University as well, setting new meet records.
