GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College's men's swimming and diving team enjoyed a historic season in 2024-25, not only winning its ninth consecutive Midwest Conference title but advancing its largest contingent to nationals since 1991. 
 
The Pioneers, who have won 21 of the last 23 league crowns, piled up 950.5 points at the MWC meet to outdistance runner-up St. Norbert College by more than 300 points. 
 
Grinnell was picked to win the 2026 title, as well. In preseason balloting of league coaches, the Pioneers received the maximum eight first-place votes and 64 voting points. St. Norbert was picked second with 53 points and Lake Forest College third with 50. 
 
Returning national qualifiers are Rommin Adl '26, Aidan Donovan '28, Evan Feilmeyer '28, the MWC Newcomer of the Year. They all competed in relays at nationals. Additionally, Feilmeyer was 24^th in the 200 butterfly and Adl placed 42^nd in the 100 free. 
 
"We had a great season with four swimmers advancing to nationals," said Grinnell coach Matt Hedman. "We want to build off that and see if we can advance more people, including more relays. Winning conference again is always a goal and we've set up a very competitive meet schedule to help us prepare for the end of the season." 
 
As a team, Grinnell placed 33^rd at nationals. That is the squad's highest finish in more than 10 years. "We're looking to improve upon that," said Hedman. "Getting into the top 25 would be a good goal." 
 
Here is a closer look at the 2025-26 Pioneers: 
  
Sprint Freestyle: 
"Rommin Adl and Aidan Donovan return to lead this group, with a lot of first-years including Spencer Pfaff '29, Adrien Law '29 and Ryan Lim '29," said Hedman. "It'll be a good blend of youth and experience. It's probably our best group on the team and will allow us to have success individually and in relays." Adl is the school record-holder in the 50 and 100 in times of 20.58 and 44.96, respectively. Donovan ranks second in the 50 and third in the 100. At the league meet, Adl won the 100 and Donovan was third, while that order flip-flopped in the 50. 
  
Distance Freestyle: 
"Evan Feilmeyer is a defending conference champ in the 500 Freestyle and will be joined by Noah Tsukuda '27 and John Kafumbe '28," said Hedman. "It'll be fun to see them progress throughout the season." Feilmeyer, MWC champ in the 200 and 500, ranks second in program history in both events. Tsukuda also enjoyed a stellar league meet, placing second in the 500 and 1650 and third in the 200. He is the school record-holder in the 1000, fourth in the 500 and fifth in the 200. Cadel Saszik '28 and Antoni Staszkiewicz '27 were fifth and sixth at the MWC meet, respectively, in the 500. Saszik ranks 10^th on the all-time program chart in the 200. 
 
Backstroke: 
"Rommin and Cadel are both strong returnees in this event and will be joined by Evan Ingraham '29, Samora Ouma Lumonya '27 and Gavin Stiglitz '28," said Hedman. "All will be very competitive in the Midwest Conference." Adl is defending MWC champ in the 100, Saszik placed second and Stiglitz was seventh. Saszik and Stiglitz placed second and fourth in the 200. On Grinnell's all-time chart in the 100, Adl ranks second, Saszik is sixth, Evan Feilmeyer ninth and Stiglitz 10^th. Saszik is fourth in the 200.  
 
Breaststroke: 
"Top returners are Keely Yeager '27, Chris Zhou '27, Jack Cerone '28, Jafar Jarrar '27 and Benke Grobler '27," said Hedman. "I'm excited to see them train and push each other as they excel at the Midwest Conference level." Yeager is the defending MWC champ in the 100 and 200 and ranks second in program history in both events, while Zhou ranks seventh in the former. Grobler and Zhou were fourth and fifth in the 100 at the MWC meet last season, while Cerone placed eighth. In the 200, Grobler placed second behind Yeager, Cerone was seventh and Zhou eighth. 
  
Butterfly: 
"Evan Feilmeyer returns after setting a school record in the 200," said Hedman. "He'll be joined by Evan Ingraham, Spencer Pfaff, Ryan Lim and Adrien Law." Feilmeyer's school-record time in the 200 fly is 1:48.62. He also ranks third in the 100, while Staszkiewicz is eighth in the 200. 
  
Individual Medley: 
"Keely Yeager will focus more on these events this season and will be joined by Benke Grobler, Antoni Staszkiewicz, John Kafumbe and first-year Daniel Yoo '29," said Hedman. "With Kevin Fitzgerald graduating, we have a lot of new people here." Staszkiewicz placed second in the 400 IM last season at the MWC meet. 
  
Diving: 
"Hayden Devorsetz '28 is the lone men's diver," said Hedman. "He's put a lot of work in during the off-season and I'm excited to see how he progresses this year."