CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | COMPLETE RESULTS | PHOTOS | ALL-AMERICANS | AWARDS
Fort Pierce, FL—For the 44th consecutive season, the Indian River State (FL) men's swimming and diving team captured the NJCAA National Championship with a total of 1,245 points. South Georgia State and Monroe (NY) rounded out the top three.
In fron of their home crowd, the Pioneers swam to another dominant championship, its 44th consecutive triumph after capturing 14 of the 17 individual events, one half of the diving events, and all five relay competitions. A freshman-led campaign, Indian River State leaned on seven different rookies to power its way past the field.
Iowa Lakes' Hylton Collinson poured in his second consecutive dominant individual performance at the national meet after claiming three events to give the sophomore six career medals.
- Freshman Ruben Van Leeuwen played a part in eight event titles for Indian River, including four individual All-America honors.
- Van Leeuwen captured the 500-yard freestyle, 50-yard breaststroke, 50-yard butterfly, and 100-yard butterfly.
- Fellow freshman Ryen Van Wyk added seven titles, including the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke, and 100-yard IM.
- Van Wyk was awarded named the NJCAA Men's Swimmer of the Year.
- Sophomore Luka Tomic served as the team's upper-class leader after guiding three relay championship events and two individual honors. Tomic was a focal point in the 2017 title with seven medals.
- Collinson, a South Africa native, repeated in the 200-yard breaststroke and the 400-yard IM for the Lakers.
- Lincoln's (IL) standout freshman Logan Santiago captured the 1-meter dive with a score of 387.15.
- Indian River's Gavrilo Blijden posted an impressive score of 480.40 to claim the 3-meter dive.
- The Pioneers' men's program joined the women's team to sweep the national championships for the 40th consecutive year.
- Lincoln head coach Jonathan Jordan was awarded the Jack Cistriano Service Award.
- Dan Dubois of Monroe was name the NJCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year.
