FRANKLIN, Ind. — The Wabash College swimming and diving team opened the 2026 season with a 123–118 road victory over Franklin College on Friday evening at Franklin Middle School, marking the Little Giants' first competition since the winter break.
Wabash secured the team win behind a series of top-three finishes across the pool and diving boards.
Zach Baty won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:26.57 to give the Little Giants an early individual victory.
Carter Ramsey added a third-place finish in the event, while
Owen Thomas placed fourth to round out the Wabash scoring.
Mason Gilliam recorded a pair of podium finishes, taking third in the 200 freestyle before winning the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:56.92.
In the individual medley events,
Ryan West claimed first place in the 200 IM in 2:00.92, while
Lew Sams finished third. West later returned to the pool to win the 100 backstroke in 53.82, adding another victory for Wabash.
Sprint events produced additional scoring depth for the Little Giants.
Quinn Sweeney finished second in the 50 freestyle before capturing first place in the 100 freestyle in 48.53. Ramsey added a fourth-place finish in the 100 free, while
Mark Berger placed fifth.
Wabash also earned key points in the butterfly and breaststroke events.
Owen Thomas finished second in the 100 butterfly, with
William Renie adding a fourth-place showing. In the 100 breaststroke, Sams led a dominant Wabash performance by winning the event in 59.80, followed by
Abbas Hakim in second and
Dane Market in third, giving the Little Giants the top three places.
The diving events proved pivotal as well.
Fox Seebach placed second on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards, while
Michael Cruzado finished third on the 1-meter dive.
Liam Fuller added a third-place result on the 3-meter board.
Relay teams contributed crucial points throughout the meet. The Wabash "A" 200 medley relay team of West, Sams, Hakim and
John Allen finished second, while the "B" relay placed third. In the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, the Wabash "A" squad earned a second-place finish and the "B" relay added third to secure the team victory.
Wabash will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 24, when the Little Giants host Illinois Wesleyan University and Valparaiso University in a double dual beginning at 1 p.m. Wabash will honor the members of its senior class prior to the start of the meet.
