Silver showing adds more shine to Kenyon dynasty

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- An impressive attempt to claim a record 35th national championship came up just short Saturday night, as the Kenyon College men, with a roster of 11, took the runner-up spot to Emory University, with a roster of 18, as the 2024 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championship came to a close at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

The finish added to a Kenyon dynasty that's spanned more than four decades. Since 1979, the Kenyon men have participated in 44 NCAA Championships and they finished either first or second in 41 of those Championships.

The Owls wrapped up the 2024 meet with 391 team points, while Emory tallied 434 points to claim its third consecutive team title. Third place went to University of Chicago with 309 points. Rounding out the top five were New York University in fourth place with 282 points and Williams College in fifth place 269.5 points.

At the start of Saturday's session, senior Max Nonnenmacher got the scoring started for the Owls. He claimed 15th place in the 1,650-yard freestyle, clocking in at 15:50.29 and registering his first career All-America award.

Kenyon's big push came in the 100-yard freestyle and was directed by sophomore Djordje Dragojlovic, who claimed the event title with a winning time of 43.26, a personal best and just a tenth of a second off the Kenyon record. The title was his second in a row in the event and his fourth of five titles gained throughout the 2024 Championship.

Following up on that performance, Kenyon had three more swimmers ring up points in the 100-yard freestyle. Alongside Dragojlovic in the championship final, junior Aleksa Dobric placed sixth with a personal best 43.84. In the consolation final, senior Marko Krtinic placed ninth in 44.32 and classmate Daniel Brooks took 10th place in 44.40.

That surge from the Kenyon sprinters whittled down a 53-point deficit to 19 points.

Emory had four swimmers rack up points in the next event, the 200-yard backstroke, but Kenyon countered with senior Yurii Kosian's second career runner-up finish in the race. He clocked in at 1:43.92 for his 16th career All-America award. In the consolation final, sophomore Ethan Manske claimed 10th place in 1:47.60. When the event was over, Emory nudged its lead over Kenyon to 23 points.

The final individual event of the 2024 Championship was the 200-yard breaststroke and Kenyon had just one evening participant, first-year Noel Tumbasz. He earned his first career All-America award by finishing the race in 13th place with a time of 1:59.48. Emory responded with three scoring swimmers who combined to push the Eagles lead to 55 points, securing the team title with one event remaining.

That last event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, was won by Kenyon, giving the Owls a total of seven event wins for the meet. Kenyon's relay team of Dragojlovic, Krtinic, Brooks and Dobric blitzed the field with a winning time 2:54.52, taking the event title for the second straight year. Dragojlovic, Krtinic and Brooks were all members of the winning team one year ago.

At the conclusion of the meet, Israel Zavaleta, a senior who swept the one- and three-meter competitions was voted the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America NCAA Division III Diver of the Year, making him the only three-time recipient in the history of the award.

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Players Mentioned

Daniel Brooks: Junior

Aleksa Dobric: Sophomore

Yurii Kosian: Junior

Marko Krtinic: Junior

Max Nonnenmacher: Junior

Israel Zavaleta: Junior

Djordje Dragojlovic: First-Year

Ethan Manske: First-Year

Noel Tumbasz: First-Year

Players Mentioned

Daniel Brooks
: Junior

Aleksa Dobric
: Sophomore

Yurii Kosian
: Junior

Marko Krtinic
: Junior

Max Nonnenmacher
: Junior

Israel Zavaleta
: Junior

Djordje Dragojlovic
: First-Year

Ethan Manske
: First-Year

Noel Tumbasz
: First-Year