OCALA, Fla. – The UIC swimming team closed its season with nine top ten finishes this weekend at the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) National Invitational Championship in Ocala, Fla. The men placed 12th overall and the women placed 29th. The six Flames relays that competed were the most the team has ever had at the NICs.
 

Way to finish!

The men earn a 12th place finish at the CSCAA NIC meet!#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/GavQbBzLcT

— UIC Swimming & Diving (@UIC_SwimDive) March 15, 2026

 
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH ASHLEY DELL
 
"I'm incredibly proud of the way our team competed at NICs to close out the season. Qualifying six women, six men, and the most relays our program has ever had at this meet speaks volumes about the growth and commitment of this group. The men battling to a 12th place finish and the women climbing four spots to 29th shows the resilience and momentum we're building as a program. The 25-26 season was another one for the books and I'm so excited for the future of the program! "
 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Jay Stewart was phenomenal for the Flames placing in the top-10 three times. Stewart placed 7th in the 50 freestyle (20.02), and eighth in both the 50 butterfly (21.49) and 100 butterfly (47.50).
• Madison Helmick earned two top-10 finishes, placing eighth in the 500 freestyle (4:48.99) and 1000 freestyle (10:03.05). Helmick also placed 15th in the 200 freestyle and 19th in the 1650 freestyle.
• James McCarthy finished seventh in the 400 Individual Medley (3:54.53). He also placed 11th in the 200 breaststroke.
• The men's 800 freestyle relay squad of Simon Rupniewski, Neiman Kumler, Brady Cannon and Noah Pelinkovic placed seventh in a time of 6:35.85.
• The women's 800 freestyle relay team of Zoe Shields, Madison Helmick, Molly Kroeger and Samantha Wilson placed ninth in a time of 7:21.41.

 
NOTABLE FINISHERS

• Noah Pelinkovic placed 12th in the 500 freestyle.
• Molly Kroeger placed 14th in the 1650 freestyle.
• Brady Cannon placed 16th in the 500 freestyle.
• Samantha Wilson placed 18th in the 200 butterfly.

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
 
 

Madison Helmick places eighth in the 500 freestyle!??#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/QOEG4dD6Ti

— UIC Swimming & Diving (@UIC_SwimDive) March 13, 2026

 

Have a day, Jay??

Jay Stewart picks up a pair of top 8 finishes!??#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/K2GGK0JoGu

— UIC Swimming & Diving (@UIC_SwimDive) March 13, 2026

 

Put in the work ??

James McCarthy picks up a 7th place finish in the 400 IM #ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/tqBf5TEQ4J

— UIC Swimming & Diving (@UIC_SwimDive) March 13, 2026

 

Go Jay! ??

Jay Stewart finishes in 8th place in the 100 Fly#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/gFdJQ6IGOv

— UIC Swimming & Diving (@UIC_SwimDive) March 13, 2026

 

7th place for our 800 Freestyle squad ??#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/UnKxEH8wD6

— UIC Swimming & Diving (@UIC_SwimDive) March 14, 2026

 

9th place for our 800 Freestyle Relay team??#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/k6XWoAvOnJ

— UIC Swimming & Diving (@UIC_SwimDive) March 14, 2026

 

Madison Helmick crushed it on the 1000 freestyle placing eighth!#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/8sbqLgnMri

— UIC Swimming & Diving (@UIC_SwimDive) March 15, 2026

 
UP NEXT
 
Harrison Nolan will represent UIC at the NCAA Championship meet, taking place in Atlanta, Ga. on Mar. 25 - Mar. 28.
 
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
 
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_SwimDive and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_swimdive and @uicflames).