Get ready for an exciting dive into the world of swimming! The battle between Indiana and Louisville left us on the edge of our seats. On January 30, 2026, in Bloomington, IN, these two powerhouse teams went head-to-head in a dual meet that delivered an unforgettable experience.
While the men's meet was a decisive win for Indiana, the women's side offered a much tighter contest. Ranked #5, Indiana's women narrowly defeated #7 Louisville, 161-138. But here's where it gets controversial... the meet's climax was the 400 free relay, and it's this event that has everyone talking.
Indiana's 'A' team, consisting of Liberty Clark, Grace Hoeper, Alex Shackell, and Kristina Paegle, stole the show with a remarkable 3:08.07 finish. Clark's lead-off split of 46.38 set the tone for their victory. This relay time is the third-fastest in the NCAA this season, trailing only Stanford and Virginia.
Louisville's 'A' relay, featuring Caroline Larsen, Julia Dennis, Julie Mishler, and Ella Welch, touched the wall in 3:09.94, securing second place. However, both teams' 'B' relays were disqualified, which allowed Indiana's 'C' relay to claim third.
Clark's performance was exceptional, as she not only contributed to the winning relay but also secured individual wins in the 200 free (1:41.35) and the 100 free (46.36), setting a new personal best.
Alex Shackell, another standout for Indiana, dominated the butterfly events, winning both the 200 fly (1:54.41) and the 100 fly (51.08). Shackell holds the Indiana school record in the 200 fly, an impressive feat.
Miranda Grana completed the stroke sweep for Indiana, winning the 100 back (50.91) and the 200 back (1:50.94). Grana's performance in the 100 fly, where she finished second to Shackell, was also noteworthy.
Louisville's star, Anastasia Gorbenko, joined the team this spring and has already made her mark. She set school records in the 100 breast and 200 IM last week at Texas and continued her winning streak at this meet, taking home three individual victories. Gorbenko's times in the 100 breast (57.81), 200 breast (2:06.75), and 400 IM (4:06.52) were exceptional.
Gorbenko's impact extended beyond her individual wins, as she also helped Louisville's 200 medley relay team secure a win. The team, comprising Mishler, Gorbenko, Welch, and Dennis, touched the wall in 1:33.59, just a tenth off their time from the previous week's meet against Texas, which currently ranks #4 in the NCAA this season.
Other event winners included Leticia Fassina Romao (Louisville) in the 1000 free (9:36.48) and Daria Golovaty (Louisville) in the 500 free (4:43.97).
Now, let's shift our focus to the men's meet, where Indiana's Zalan Sarkany dominated, winning the 1000 free (8:40.40), the 500 free (4:16.79), and the 400 IM (3:43.28). His 1000 free time was just shy of his season best, which currently ranks #2 in the NCAA.
Mikkel Lee was another standout for Indiana, winning both the 50 free (19.03) and the 100 free (42.35). Lee's 50 free time was a personal best, improving upon his previous mark by a slim 0.04 seconds.
Lee's contributions didn't stop there; he also helped Indiana's relay teams secure two wins. The 200 medley relay team, consisting of Miroslav Knedla, Travis Gulledge, Owen McDonald, and Lee, touched first in 1:22.63. McDonald, Lee, Knedla, and Dylan Smiley combined for a winning time of 2:49.16 in the 400 free relay.
Knedla and McDonald put on a show in the 100 back, with Knedla taking the win in 44.78, a new personal best. McDonald finished second in 45.58. Knedla also won the 200 back in 1:40.88.
Raekwon Noel swept the butterfly events for Indiana, winning the 100 fly (45.78) and the 200 fly (1:41.14), with a personal best time in the latter event.
The Louisville men were led by Guy Brooks, who finished second in the 200 free (1:34.12), just behind Indiana's Aaron Shackell (1:33.97). Brooks also contributed to Louisville's 400 free relay team, which finished second. Brooks had the fastest split with a 41.99.
Nikita Sheremet was another standout for Louisville, finishing second in the 50 free (19.40), the 100 free (42.63), and as part of the 200 medley relay team.
Other event winners included Alexei Avakov (Indiana) in the 100 breast (51.98) and Josh Bey (Indiana) in the 200 breast (1:53.24).
This meet was a thrilling display of swimming talent, and it's clear that these teams are gearing up for an exciting season. Who do you think will emerge as the top contenders? Will Indiana's women continue their winning streak, or will Louisville bounce back? And what about the men's teams? The season is young, and there's still so much to uncover. Let's keep an eye on these teams and see how their journeys unfold. Don't forget to share your thoughts and predictions in the comments!
