GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College's men's swimming and diving team has enjoyed unprecedented success over the years, and the Pioneers are looking to continue that into the 2026-27 campaign. 

 

The Pioneers claimed their 10th Midwest Conference title in a row last season, piling up 1037.5 points in the process, and have sent at least one competitor to the NCAA Division III Championships for two years in a row. 

 

Grinnell, which has won 22 of the last 24 league crowns, beat runner-up Milwaukee School of Engineering by nearly 200 points for the league title. 

 

"The conference has a lot of talent and it should again be close at the top between us and MSOE," said Grinnell coach Matt Hedman. "Depth will be a big factor in terms of which team wins the meet, and I feel we are sitting good in that department. It'll be exciting to see who steps up for us this year. We have big goals of continuing our conference winning streak and getting a big group of guys to the national meet, either individually or in relays. We'd love to get a top 25 national finish." 

  

Here is a closer look at the 2026-27 Pioneers:  

   

"School record-holders Spencer Pfaff '29 and Aidan Donovan '28 will lead the way for us," said Hedman. "They are looking good and I'm excited to see what they can do." Pfaff has the school record and won the league title in the 50-yard freestyle and Donovan the 100 free. Donovan also ranks second in program history in the 50 free and Pfaff sixth in the 100 free.  

 

"Jafar Jarrar '27 also made big improvements last year, and first-year David Olaru '30 has a lot of potential," Hedman added. "This is probably the most talented group on the team." Jarrar ranks seventh in GC history in the 50 freestyle. 

   

"Evan Feilmeyer '28 has fully transitioned to the distance freestyle races and I'm excited to see what he can do," said Hedman. "Captain Noah Tsukuda '27 will primarily focus on the 500 this year, and John Kafumbe '28 shows a lot of potential as does first-year Nate Farnham '30." 

 

Feilmeyer is the school-record holder in the 500 free and ranks third in the 1650 free, while Tsukuda holds the mark in the 1000 free and is fourth in both the 500 and 1650. Feilmeyer and Tsukuda went 1-2 in the 500 at last season's league meet and Tsukuda placed third in the 1650. 

 

Feilmeyer is also the defending MWC Outstanding Swimmer. 

 

"Evan Ingraham '29 is looking strong, and two swimmers who are abroad – Cadel Saszik '28 and Gavin Stiglitz '28 – will return in January and have a lot of potential," said Hedman. "David Olaru has a lot of potential, too." 

 

Ingraham won the 100 back at least year's league meet, while Saszik was third at the MWC meet and Stiglitz fifth. In the 200, Saszik placed first and Stiglitz was second. Ingraham ranks second in GC history in the 100 back and fourth in the 200, while Saszik is fifth in the 200. 

 

Ingraham is the defending MWC Outstanding Newcomer. 

 

"Keely Yeager '27 returns as a senior leader as does Jafar Jarrar," said Hedman. "Luke Grosshuesch '30 is a promising first-year and Jack Cerone '28 is abroad, but will help us when he returns. Benke Grobler '27 is also part of the strong senior group and I'm excited to see what he can do." 

 

Yeager was the MWC champ in the 200 breaststroke and second in the 100, while Jarrar placed fourth in the 100. Yeager ranks second in both events on the all-time GC list. 

 

"Spencer Pfaff and Evan Ingraham are our school-record holders in the 100 and 200 butterflies, respectively," said Hedman. "Evan also competed at nationals in both events. Nate Farnham will focus on the 200 and Gavin Stiglitz and captain Antoni Staszkiewicz '27 will contribute, as well." 

 

Pfaff won the 100 fly at the MWC meet, while Ingraham took the 200 with Staskiewicz placing fifth. 

"Evan Ingraham might compete in the 200 IM with Nate Farnham and Antoni Staszkiewicz in the 400," said Hedman. "Isaac Truelove '30 is a really well-rounded swimmer and can excel in the IM, as well." 

 

Ingraham, who placed third at the league meet in the 200, also ranks third on GC's all-time chart. Staszkiewicz was third in the 400. 

"We have four divers this year," said Hedman. "Hayden Devorsetz '28 is returning for his third year and Jackson Waters '27 is back, as well. We also have two former gymnasts in Eli Lagleva '30 and Griffin Zollars '30. They've already made big improvements."