Eleven Tartans Set for NCAA Championships Meet

(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.) – Eleven Carnegie Mellon University men's swimmers have earned the right to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships. The championship meet will be hosted at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 18-21.

Senior Arnav Deshpande will return to the national meet for the fourth year after being invited to compete in the 100-yard backstroke and four relays. He'll also have the chance to swim the 50-yard freestyle, where he ranks 18th, and the 100-yard freestyle where he is 31st. His time in the 100-yard backstroke is ranked 12th. Last year, Deshpande was on the 400-yard medley relay that won the national championship and in 2024 he placed 12th in the 100-yard backstroke.

Three-time 2025 national champion Brayden Morford will look to repeat his performances this year during his third appearance on the national stage. The junior won the 400-yard medley relay, the 100-yard backstroke, and the 200-yard IM, while he placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly. He'll once again swim those three individual events where he is ranked fourth, seventh, and second respectively. Additionally, he'll be on four relays during the meet.

Junior Aaron Lee is back on the national stage for the third season following an invite in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard medley relay. His time in the 100-yard breaststroke is 13th best in the nation. He will also swim the 50-yard freestyle (ranked 50th) and the 100-yard butterfly (ranked 44th).

Sophomore Matthew Peitler is ranked in the top three in three different events and returns to the meet for the second year. He'll swim the 50-yard freestyle (ranked fifth), the 100-yard freestyle (ranked second), and the 200-yard freestyle (ranked fourth), along with four relays. Last year, Peitler placed fifth in the 100-yard freestyle, and was part of the winning 200-yard medley relay team and three other relays that placed in the top four.

Freshman Tenmy Wangpo has been invited to the meet with the eighth best time in the 200-yard butterfly and the 17th best time in the 400-yard IM. He'll also swim the 200-yard backstroke (ranked 20th).

Senior Max Kulbida returns to the meet for the second time after competing in two relays and two individual events as a freshman. He's on the 400-yard medley relay that is ranked fifth and will swim the 100-yard breaststroke (ranked 21st) and the 200-yard breaststroke (ranked 18th).

Freshmen Max Gu and Alex Luebke are on the 800-yard freestyle relay ranked fourth and will each get to swim individual events for meeting the qualifying standards during the year. Gu will swim the 200-yard IM where he's ranked 27th and Luebke will swim the 200-yard freestyle where he's ranked 29th.

Freshman Noah Barrett, sophomore Todd Dong, and junior Cole Venters round out the relays for the Tartans. Barrett will be on the 200-yard freestyle relay (ranked second) and the 200-yard medley relay (ranked fifth). Dong joins the 400-yard freestyle relay (ranked third) and Venters will be on the 800-yard freestyle relay.

The meet starts on Wednesday, March 18 with the 200-yard IM, 50-yard freestyle, and 400-yard medley relay.