South Carolina Men and Rice Women Take Home CSCAA Open Water Championship Titles
Hosted by Florida International University, the CSCAA’s 2024 College Open Water National Championship took place at Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida.
Miami, FL – The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) proudly hosted the Open Water National Championship today at the stunning Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. The event, hosted on Florida International University’s campus, featured an exhilarating competition with nearly 240 student-athletes from almost 50 institutions, representing teams from all three NCAA divisions.
The weather for today's race included favorable temperatures in the mid-70s; however, athletes faced challenging conditions as they navigated choppy waters due to steady winds in the area. Despite these obstacles, the competitors demonstrated remarkable resilience, showcasing their endurance and skills throughout the race.
This year's championship introduced recognition for top finishers by division. The first-place finisher for each gender in Division I, Division II and Division III were honored during the award ceremonies. “As this event continues to grow, it is important that we honor athletes from all divisions for their success in the open water discipline,” said Executive Director Barany.
Samantha Barany added, “Today’s championship reflects the incredible talent and dedication of our student-athletes. A heartfelt thank you to Florida International University for their gracious hospitality in hosting this important event. The contributions of the staff and volunteers were instrumental in ensuring a smooth and successful championship experience.”
Host and Race Director, FIU Head Coach Randy Horner, stated, “Today was an incredible success. Open water provides such a unique and valuable experience for our sport. It’s amazing to see all NCAA divisions come together to compete for a national title. For the second consecutive time, the men’s champion came from Division II—how cool is that? I’m proud that FIU could play a role in making this event happen.”
The CSCAA would also like to extend our gratitude to the Greater Miami Visitors & Conventions Bureau for their generous sponsorship and hospitality.
The top finishers and full results can be found below and on the CSCAA Open Water webpage.
Men’s Team Results
University of South Carolina: 3:03:58
Denver University: 3:06:06
University of Cincinnati: 3:08:50
The South Carolina Gamecocks trio of Connor Fry (1:01.11), Ryan Turner (1:01.21), and Umut Yildirim (1:01.26) secured first place with a combined time of 3:03.58. Finishing in second place were the Denver Pioneers, represented by Connor Hughes (1:01.17), Joe Hancock (1:01.21), and Will Melsha (1:03.28), with a total time of 3:06.06. Rounding out the top three, the Cincinnati Bearcats team of Ido Gal (1:01.17), Max Murray (1:03.34), and Brady Beyer (1:03.59) posted a combined time of 3:08.50.
Jeff Poppell, Head Coach of the Gamecocks, said, “Our South Carolina athletes had an awesome experience competing at this past weekend’s CSCAA Open Water College Championships in North Miami! This was our first year participating in the event, and it truly exceeded our expectations. I’d like to extend a special thank you to Randy Horner and FIU for serving as outstanding hosts and creating a first-class experience for all participants. We look forward to returning next year!”
Men’s Individual Results
Ben Wainman, Saginaw Valley State 1:00:41.97
Max Vega Cuevas, Texas A&M 1:01:10.17
Connor Fry, South Carolina 1:01:10.88
Ben Wainman of Saginaw Valley State, the men’s overall champion, also claimed the top spot in Division II with a time of 1:00:41.97. Max Vega Cuevas, representing Texas A&M, secured the top Division I finish, crossing the line at 1:01:10.17. Meanwhile, Thomas Langlois of Whittier earned the top spot among Division III finishers with a time of 1:01:14.93.
Women’s Team Results
Rice University: 3:17:44
University of South Carolina: 3:22:16
Purdue University: 3:23:38
The Rice Owls trio of Ella Dyson (1:03:32), Ava Hamblett (1:07:05) and Amelia Kane (1:07:07) finished in first place with a combined time of 3:17.44. Coming in second place was the South Carolina Gamecocks group of Nora Fluck (1:06:42), Sianna Savarda (1:07:15) and Emma Reiser (1:07:32) with a combined time of 3:22:16. Rounding out the top three was the Purdue Boilermakers team of Adele Sands (1:07:20), Reagan Mattice (1:07:22) and Caitlin M Hurley (1:07:34) posting a team time of 3:23:38.
Seth Huston, Head Coach of the Owls, said, “Wow! Ella jumped out into the lead and kept extending her distance from the field. It was an incredible performance. The girls did an excellent job managing their emotions amidst the conditions and performed exceptionally well. Today was definitely a team victory.”
Women’s Individual Results
Ella Dyson, Rice 1:03:31.40
Miriam Frass, Youngstown State 1:06:40.41
Marlene Blanke Villanova 1:06:41.78
Ella Dyson of Rice claimed the overall race victory and secured the top spot among Division I women with a time of 1:03:31.40. Tori Shoemaker, representing Alaska-Fairbanks, earned the title of top finisher among Division II women, completing the race in 1:07:20.70. Meanwhile, Sam Peck of Marywood was the top Division III finisher, crossing the line in 1:27:00.73.
About the CSCAA
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) is the first professional association of college coaches in the United States. The CSCAA is dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming and diving at the collegiate level. The CSCAA works to
protect, promote and expand competitive intercollegiate swimming and diving programs;
recognize outstanding achievements by coaches, swimmers and divers;
promote communication and cooperation within swimming and diving and with our partner National Governing Bodies, the NCAA, NAIA and Junior College Associations;
provide ongoing educational and leadership training for coaches and athletes; and serve as a resource to its membership and for the general public.