The WPI Department of Athletics is proud to continue its 2025–2026 Athletics Celebration, a daily series highlighting the top moments from each varsity program's season. The celebration will also recognize each team's Ray Cherenzia '73 Award honoree and selected programs' major award winners, as chosen by WPI Athletics' head coaches.

Men's Top Moment: Engineers Place Third at the NEWMAC Championships
The WPI men's swimming and diving team capped the 2026 NEWMAC Championships with a third-place finish on February 22 at MIT's Zesiger Center Pool. The Engineers compiled 731 points across the four-day meet, finishing behind MIT and Coast Guard while placing ahead of Babson, Wheaton, Springfield and Clark.

First-year Lucas Brown supplied a final-day podium performance in the 1,650-yard freestyle, placing third in 16:19.23, while senior Samuel Witscher added an eighth-place finish in the event. WPI also received scoring performances across the freestyle and butterfly events before closing the championship with fifth place in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The depth and consistency behind the third-place team result later earned WPI a share of the NEWMAC Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year honor.
Men's NEWMAC Championship Recap

Women's Top Moment: Jacobs and Kang Lead WPI Past Wheaton
WPI closed its dual-meet schedule with a decisive 186.5–91.5 victory over NEWMAC rival Wheaton on January 20 in Norton. The Engineers won 11 events in a balanced performance that provided an emphatic response in their final head-to-head competition of the season.

First-year Amber Jacobs swept the 1,000-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley, including a season-best 11:03.44 in the 1,000. Sophomore Sarah Kang matched the three-win performance by capturing the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly. Additional individual victories and a winning 200-yard freestyle relay demonstrated the program's depth throughout the meet.
Women's Victory over Wheaton Recap
 

Men's Senior Day Reflection: Engineers Honor Seven

WPI celebrated the men's swimming and diving senior class before the second day of the Menck Invitational on January 24. Gavin McCullough, Devin Mihaichuk, Christopher Smith, Kacey Tarbrake, Samuel Witscher and Nikita Zuev were recognized for their contributions to the team and its culture, while graduating diver Tom Fitzgerald was also honored alongside the senior class.

The celebration continued in the pool as the seniors competed together in the 100-yard medley and freestyle class relays. Smith punctuated his final regular-season home meet with a victory in the 200-yard individual medley, Zuev produced a personal best in the 1,000-yard freestyle and Fitzgerald claimed both diving events. The day offered a fitting recognition of a group whose impact extended well beyond its results.

Men's Swimming & Diving Senior Day Recap

Women's Senior Day Reflection: WPI Celebrates Four Seniors

The women's program honored Ally Giovenco, Kaitlyn Grove, Chloe Johnson and Rachel Tsang before the final day of the Menck Invitational. Teammates celebrated the quartet with a fog-machine walkout, posters and gifts, creating a memorable tribute to four student-athletes who helped shape the program throughout their WPI careers.

The four seniors then shared the pool in the 100-yard freestyle class relay. Grove and Tsang later touched together in the 50-yard butterfly, while Giovenco recorded a season best in the 200-yard breaststroke and Johnson delivered a personal best in the 100-yard backstroke. Their final regular-season appearance at home reflected the connection, growth and team-first spirit that defined the class.

Women's Swimming & Diving Senior Day Recap

Ray Cherenzia '73 Award Recipient – Men's Swimming & Diving: Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith was selected as the men's swimming and diving program's recipient of the Ray Cherenzia '73 Award. The honor is presented to a member of each varsity team who exemplifies the spirit of an "unsung hero"—someone who works hard every day, puts the team first over personal goals and performs the often-unrecognized responsibilities that are vital to the team's success.

Smith's selection recognizes the commitment, selflessness and character shown while representing WPI in competition, in the classroom and in the community. The senior scored in three individual events at the NEWMAC Championships and earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition for the second consecutive season.
 

Ray Cherenzia '73 Award Recipient – Women's Swimming & Diving: Rachel Tsang

Rachel Tsang was selected as the women's swimming and diving program's recipient of the Ray Cherenzia '73 Award. The recognition celebrates a team-first contributor whose daily preparation, dependability and willingness to handle the little things help the program succeed, often without widespread recognition.

Tsang's selection reflects the hard work, sportsmanship and selflessness brought to the Crimson and Gray throughout the season. The senior was also chosen for the NEWMAC Winter All-Sportsmanship Team, earned a second straight Academic All-Conference honor and collected College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition.
 

Additional Season Honors
Gavin McCullough represented the men's program and Tsang represented the women's program on the NEWMAC Winter All-Sportsmanship Team. The honor recognizes student-athletes who best demonstrate the ideals of the conference and its Code of Conduct.
NEWMAC Winter All-Sportsmanship Team

Twenty members of the men's swimming and diving program earned NEWMAC Academic All-Conference recognition, the second-highest total in the league. Devin Mihaichuk and Nikita Zuev became three-time honorees, 10 Engineers repeated as selections and eight student-athletes—including Smith—received the distinction for the first time.
Men's NEWMAC Academic All-Conference

Eight women's swimming and diving student-athletes were named to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Team. Kaitlyn Grove, Chloe Johnson, Tsang and Katrina Waite earned the honor for the second straight season, while Kang, Maria Korneva, Sophie Robinson and Alia Ureta collected their first career selections.
Women's NEWMAC Academic All-Conference

Smith, Dean Doubek, Nolan Schlessman and Sean Tesoro represented the men's program on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. Smith repeated as an Academic All-District honoree after scoring in three individual events at the NEWMAC Championships and contributing throughout the season in relay competition.
Men's CSC Academic All-District Team

Kang, Waite, Grove and Tsang were selected to the College Sports Communicators Women's Swimming & Diving Academic All-District Team. The quartet helped WPI earn six dual-meet victories, the Gompei Invitational team title and a fifth-place finish at the NEWMAC Championships.
Women's CSC Academic All-District Team

Head coach Paul Bennett and assistants Maddie Katz, Spencer Coffin '13, Mark Wild and Ashton Lyon '23 were voted the 2025–2026 NEWMAC Co-Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year. WPI shared the award with Coast Guard after the Engineers' third-place conference finish, marking the sixth time Bennett and the staff have received NEWMAC recognition.
NEWMAC Co-Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year

The 2025–2026 WPI Athletics Celebration will continue with features highlighting each of the Engineers' varsity programs. Follow WPI Athletics on Instagram (@wpiathletics), Facebook and X (@WPIAthletics) to keep up with the series.

Fans can also follow WPI Swimming & Diving on Instagram (@wpiswimdive) and X (@WPISwimDive) for the latest program news and updates.