North Michigan News

The Northern Michigan University men's swim and dive team will begin its 2025-26 season at home, hosting teams from St. Cloud, Davenport, and Lake Superior State. The event will take place at the PEIF Pool in Marquette with two sessions scheduled for Friday, October 3, at 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., followed by a session on Saturday, October 4, at 10 a.m. Admission is free for all attendees.

Last season, the Wildcats finished third at the GLIAC Championships and had a strong showing at the NCAA Championships. Leo Nolles returns to the team after being named GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Year. Nolles won individual silver and bronze medals in the 50 and 100 freestyle events and was part of the silver medal-winning 200 freestyle relay team that narrowly missed gold by three-hundredths of a second at the NCAA Championships. He also secured five golds among seven total medals at last year's GLIAC Championships and received a GLIAC Commissioners Award.

Other returning members include William LaCount, Daniel Khmara, Gabriel Fulconi—who were all part of last year’s silver-medal relay—and All-Americans Tobie Stiles and Ian Rocheleau. Five freshmen have joined this year's roster; notable performances so far include Matteo Ballardin winning the 200 butterfly and Yousseh Nahali finishing less than one second behind Nolles in the 50 freestyle during an intra squad scrimmage.

St. Cloud enters after achieving its best finish ever—eighth place—at last season's NCAA Championships with twelve All-America honors and fourth place in the GLIAC meet. Lance Godard returns as their standout swimmer following his gold medal in the 200 butterfly.

Davenport placed sixth at last year’s GLIAC Championships; Owen Stender (tied for second in the 200 breaststroke) and Matthew Gauck (school record holder in three-meter diving) are among key returners who competed nationally.

Lake Superior State is entering its second year as a program under new Director of Intercollegiate Swimming and Aquatics Tim O'Neil, who previously led Lewis University to multiple school records during his first season there.

Head coach Heidi Voigt commented on hosting multiple teams: "We have three teams at home this weekend, the most teams we've had at a home event since I've been here... it's always fun for us to race at home, [The student-athletes] have pride in being at our pool."