GREENSBORO, N.C. — Senior Luke Schwenk of Broadneck High in Annapolis, Maryland, added to his impressive collegiate resume on March 21, securing his sixth career All-America award at the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. Competing in the 100-yard backstroke, Schwenk finished 10th overall with a time of 48.17, earning Second Team All-America honors during Friday’s consolation finals.
Schwenk, a 6-foot-2 team captain, entered the morning preliminaries seeded seventh with an entry time of 47.95. He posted a 48.23 in the prelims, placing ninth and missing the championship finals by a razor-thin margin of 0.17 seconds. As the top qualifier for the consolation finals, he took an early lead in the evening race but was edged out by Calvin College’s Charles Platt, who won with a 47.90 for ninth place. Schwenk’s 48.17 secured second in the consolations and 10th overall, marking his third Second Team All-America recognition.
The senior’s performance builds on a strong showing at the 2024 NCAA Championships, where he finished seventh in the same event with a 47.98, earning First Team All-America honors. Schwenk, representing an unnamed college, has been a consistent standout in Division III swimming, with his latest accolade highlighting his versatility and endurance.
He returns to the pool on Saturday, March 22, for the 100-yard freestyle preliminaries, where he is seeded seventh with an entry time of 43.72. Last year, Schwenk placed 18th in the event with a 44.69, and he aims to improve his standing in his final individual event of the championships.
On the women’s side, sophomore Kelsie Miller from Potomac, Maryland’s Winston Churchill High made her mark at the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships on Friday morning. Competing in the 200-yard butterfly, Miller finished third in her heat with a time of 2:07.19, shaving over a second off her seed time of 2:08.77. Seeded 38th entering the preliminaries, she climbed to 31st overall in a competitive 41-swimmer field.
Miller will wrap up her second NCAA appearance on Saturday, March 22, in the 100-yard freestyle preliminaries. She enters unseeded but carries momentum from last season’s 33rd-place finish in the event with a 51.77. Her improvement in the 200-yard butterfly suggests potential for a stronger showing in her final race.
The championships, hosted at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, continue to showcase top Division III talent. According to the NCAA’s official website www.ncaa.com, the event draws hundreds of athletes annually, with live coverage available for fans and supporters. Schwenk and Miller’s performances reflect the competitive depth of the meet, where fractions of a second often determine All-America status.
Schwenk’s six All-America awards place him among the elite in Division III swimming history, a testament to his leadership and skill. The NCAA recognizes First Team All-America honors for top-eight finishes and Second Team honors for places nine through 16, per its official guidelines www.ncaa.org. Meanwhile, Miller’s steady progress signals a promising trajectory as she builds on her championship experience.
Fans can follow Saturday’s action live on NCAA.com, with prelims beginning in the morning and finals scheduled for the evening. Schwenk and Miller represent Maryland’s strong presence in collegiate swimming, carrying local pride into the national spotlight.
