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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio swim and dive team are set for the 2026 Mid-American Conference Chapionships Feb. 25-28. This year's event is hosted by Akron at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio. Competition on Wednesday, Feb. 25 begins at 6 p.m. ET with 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay. The Bobcats return to action on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. ET for prelims, with finals set to begin at 6 p.m. ET. The same schedule goes for Friday and Saturday's competition, with a champion to be crowned at Saturday night's finals. The Championship Award Ceremony is set to begin at 8:55 p.m. ET. Every session will be streamed on ESPN+. 

Ohio looks to improve on last year's second-place finish, in hopes to dethrone Akron as this year's Champion. Senior Casadie DiBetta (St. Clairsville, Ohio) and junior Zita Szoke (Serbia, Becej) look to defend their MAC Titles from a year ago. At least year's championships in Buffalo, DiBetta was MAC Champion in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes with times of 59.81 and 2:10.99 and in the 200-yard medley relay. She became the school record holder in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke as well as 200- and 400-yard medley relay and was named First Team All-MAC. 

Szoke looks to defend her titles in the MAC 50-, 100-, 200-yard freestyles and 200-yard medley relay. She also a member of the 400-yard medley relay as well as the 400- and 200-yard freestyle relays that all placed second. Szoke is also looking to break her own school records in the 50-,100-, and 200 yard free as well as the 400- and 800- yard freestyle relays and 200- and 400- medley relays. Szoke was was also a First Team All-MAC Selection. 

Other All-MAC selections returning to the pool for the 2026 Championships are Emily Ellsworth (Westerville, Ohio) and Morgan Brown (Fort Wayne, Ind.), who earned first and second team recognition, respectively. Head coach Mason Norman is also the reigning MAC Coach of the Year. 

The Bobcats are looking to capture their first MAC Championship since 2011, while also looking to dethrone host Akron, who has won four-straight MAC Titles. 

The Bobcats last competed as a full team Jan. 30-31 at Akron, with the Zips winning, 239-171. Junior Astrid Pichardo (Guanajuato, Mexico) earned Diver of the Week honors for the second time this season for her efforts in Ohio's meet against Akron. Individually, Pichardo placed first in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. Pichardo left Akron with new personal records in both events, with a 1-m score of 297.45 and a 3m score of 327.15, and led the Bobcats' diving efforts over the weekend.

All information, including live stream, results, merchandise, and more, can be found at the MAC Swimming & Diving Championship Central page, here.

All-Session Passes are available for $75, while single-session tickets can be purchased for $16 and are available for purchase here.

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