Trio of Owls leads the way at Friday’s First Chance

2/20/2026 9:40:00 PM

GAMBIER, Ohio -- Hosting the first of back-to-back events designed to focus on NCAA Championship qualifying times, the Kenyon College Owls hosted a few other men's swimming and diving teams in Friday night's unscored First Chance Invitational, which precedes Saturday's Fast Chance Invitational.

It turned out to be a good night for three Kenyon swimmers, who not only dialed up NCAA 'B' cuts, but also season bests. That trio included first-year Thomson Parlette, sophomore Leo Karnitz, and senior Ethan Manske.

Parlette was the first of the group to log a notable time. In the 200-yard butterfly, he registered a 1:48.61, which cleared the NCAA 'B' cut of 1:49.64 and also clipped his previous best time of 1:50.54, set at last week's North Coast Athletic Conference Championship.

Two events later, Karnitz completed the 100-yard breaststroke in 54.31, topping his previous best of 54.95, also set last week, and easily clearing the NCAA 'B' cut of 55.19. In the same race, junior Noel Tumbasz posted an NCAA 'B' cut performance that ended in 55.08, but it didn't come near his season best mark of 54.41.

Three events after the 100-yard backstroke, Manske registered a 1:48.58 in the 200-yard backstroke. That time fell under the NCAA 'B' standard and also replaced his previous season best time of 1:48.70.

The only other Kenyon swimmer to chalk up a 'B' cut Friday night was senior Djordje Dragojlovic. He whipped up a 20.11 in the 50-yard freestyle, but that was nowhere near his season best and NCAA automatic qualifying time of 19.53, which he established back in November.

Members of the team will have one final chance to improve times tomorrow at home, during the Fast Chance Invitational, which gets underway at noon.

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