Swimming and Diving: April 2026
Bates swimming & diving turned the 2026 NCAA Championships into a defining moment in program history, delivering performances that put the Bobcats firmly on the national stage. The men’s team led the way with a historic sixth-place finish – the highest in Bates history- amassing a record-setting 185 points and topping all NESCAC programs at the meet.
On the women’s side, Sarah Palmer ’27 delivered an outstanding individual performance, placing 26th out of 60 competitors and scoring in both her events; an impressive accomplishment competing solo on the national stage.
It was a truly unforgettable season for everyone involved. Explore the highlights and links below to dive deeper into this historic weekend.
The NCAA Highlights
14 All American Performances
8 Top Eight Finishes
Sarah Palmer ’27 6th Place 200 Breast (2:15. 9) amongst many others!
3 NCAA Records
(400 Medley Relay (47.8/50.4/47.4/40.1), 200 Medley Relay (22.4/22.9/21.4/18.7), 50 Breast (23.9)
2 NCAA Champions
(400 Medley Relay (3:08.6), 100 Breaststroke Marrich Somridhivej (51.8)
1 NCAA Coach of the Year
Peter Casares
FBA Challenge
As we wrap up one of the best seasons in Bates Athletics history, we cannot simply revel in the past and reflect on all the greatness forever! As a staff, we are turning our attention to both recruiting and the FBA Challenge, May 7, to make sure our future remains strong.
We have the goal of surpassing the $60K we raised last year to not only help cover the cost of rising expenses, but primarily help our coaching staff and salaries. You simply can’t replace the staff we had this year, and we would love to keep it together another year!
If you are interested in helping as an FBA captain, please reach out to Peter Casares via email. We typically look for someone who is well-connected with the classmates they swam with over their four years and would be interested in helping us drum up excitement about giving back to the program!
We are at a tipping point for sure. The team experienced the best improvement in the NESCAC among men and women combined, and our first-ever top-10 finish for the program. We would love to take advantage of this movement and ensure that generations of Bates swimmers and divers have a chance to continue rewriting history!
