Grand Rapids, Mich- The Aquinas Women's Swim and Dive team is poised to make a splash as they dive into the 2024-25 season, now just one month away. The Saints are set to compete in five meets before plunging into the Don Kimble Invite. The Saint's season begins on October 5, hitting the road to Illinois to face Olivet Nazarene for their opening meet. Shortly after, on October 11-12, Aquinas will plunge into back-to-back meets against Eastern Illinois, Saint Ambrose, and Davenport.

Following their final regular-season tri-meet against racing against Davenport and Hillsdale, the Saints will set their sights on the KCAC Conference Meet from February 5th to 8th. With a lineup of challenging competitions, the team is ready to ride the wave toward a successful season.

The 2023-24 season was the best season to-date in the history of the AQ swim and dive programs. The Saints set 36 new school records and had both the men's and women's teams finish inside the top-20 schools at NAIA Nationals. At the 2024 national meet, the Saints earned 6 All-America honors on the 1M and 3M boards and an All-America Honorable Mention. The program had its first national champion on the 1M board. 

Coach Hepp was named the KCAC Men's Coach of the Year following the team's outstanding performances on the boards and in the water, leading to the team's highest finish to date (3rd). The women also made waves by moving up three places in the KCAC standings in 2024 and all three NAIA qualifiers scoring points at the championship meet. 

Aquinas is thrilled to share that Amelia Edens, Chloe Boivin, and Meghan Hincher, all of whom earned All-Conference honors, will be returning to support the Saints' continued success. Edens was a crucial part of the Saints dynamic, earning All-America Honorable Mention in the 200 backstroke, scoring the first points on the swim side at the national meet. She currently holds 5 individual event records (100 back, 200 back, 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM) and is a member of all 5 record-setting relays. Returning as a sophomore, Boivin holds two individual event records (50 free, 100 free) and was a pivotal member of all 5 team relay records.

Coach Hepp states, "This is the strongest team we've ever had. As we enter our fourth season, I look forward to rewriting the record board, shaking things up within the KCAC, and sending our biggest team to the national meet to date."

Additional Highlights 

• Broke 12 individual event records and all 5 relay records

• Placed 4th out of 9 teams in the KCAC, moving up from placing 7th during the 2022-2023 season

• Divers earned 2 All-America honors on the 1M board and our first national champion on the 1M board, helping the women's team finish 18th at the national meet.

• Notable returning team record-holders are Claire Hines (Jr.), Hincher (So.), Lily Heath (Jr.) and Ella Althaver (Jr.). 

• We have experienced a lot of growth on our dive team under our new coach Sophia Farbarzhevich, which will greatly strengthen our team standings at the conference and national meets
  
  Click HERE to view the full 2024-25 women's swim and dive schedule.