GENEVA, OH (Feb. 14, 2026) – The Fairfield University Stags won the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio on Saturday night. The Stags scored a total of 1325.5 points, edging runner-up Marist University by 10 points. Overall, the Stags have won five MAAC Championships in program history, last winning the league trophy in 2023, following three straight championships from 2018 through 2020.
With Fairfield also winning the 2026 MAAC Men’s Swimming & Diving team title, the Stags became the second straight program – sixth overall – in league history to sweep both team titles.
Marist led the field following the first three days and entered the final night leading Fairfield by 34 points. The Stags outscored the Red Foxes by 44 points, scoring 450 points on the final night to score the 1325.5 total, compared to Marist’s 1315.5 points, to claim the championship title. Fairfield’s night was highlighted by MAAC Swimming Rookie of the Meet, Natasha De Pree winning gold in the 1650 Free in 16:53.77. Fairfield had a trio of bronze medal winners, which included Sofia Smerechniak (1650 Free), Chloe Wukitch (200 Back), and Callie Gray (200 Fly). Moreover, seven other Stags made final podiums on the evening to contribute to the team score.
The other individual gold medalists on the night included Marist’s Kennedy Wheeler (100 Free), Niagara’s trio of Natalie Killion (200 Back), Alaina Pitton (200 Breast) and Claire Gorton (100 Free) all repeating as champs in their respective races, and Sacred Heart’s Sophia Velleco (200 Fly). Additionally, Niagara’s 400 Free Relay team won gold and set the MAAC record with a 3:23.62 finishing time.
| 2026 Women’s Final Team Standings |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
1325.5 |
| 2 |
Marist |
1315.5 |
| 3 |
Niagara |
1074 |
| 4 |
Sacred Heart |
893.5 |
| 5 |
Iona |
724 |
| 6 |
Mount St. Mary's |
585 |
| T7 |
Canisius |
516 |
| T7 |
Rider |
516 |
| 9 |
Siena |
434.5 |
| 10 |
Merrimack |
340 |
| 11 |
Saint Peter's |
259 |
| 12 |
Manhattan |
197 |
| Day 4 Event Results |
| Event |
Name |
Institution |
Time/Score |
| Women’s 1650 Free |
Natasha De Pree |
Fairfield |
16:53.77 |
| Women’s 200 Back |
Natalie Killion |
Niagara |
1:57.38 |
| Women’s 100 Free |
Kennedy Wheeler
Claire Gorton |
Marist
Niagara |
50.96 |
| Women’s 200 Breast |
Alaina Pitton |
Niagara |
2:13.98 |
| Women’s 200 Fly |
Sophia Velleco |
Sacred Heart |
2:02.03 |
| Women’s 400 Free Relay |
Megan Jackson, Claire Gorton, Natalie Killion, Alaina Pitton |
Niagara |
3:23.62* |
MAAC Record*
| 2026 Major Awards |
| Award |
Honoree |
| MAAC Most Outstanding Swimmer |
Alaina Pitton, Niagara |
| MAAC Most Outstanding Diver |
Sinclair Yadao, Sacred Heart |
| MAAC Swimming Rookie of the Meet |
Natasha De Pree, Fairfield |
| MAAC Diving Rookie of the Meet |
Ryleigh Mahoney, Sacred Heart |
For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Men's & Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, please visit
maacsports.com/swim.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on
X,
Facebook,
Instagram and LinkedIn or visit
MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.