Men's Swimming and Diving | 2/18/2026 9:21:17 PM
WEBSTER, NY – A pair of Empire 8 records fell on day one of the 2026 Empire 8 Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship, held the Webster Aquatic Center on Wednesday, February 18. SUNY Geneseo holds the team lead after Wednesday’s action.
The nationally-ranked Knights have 331 team points to hold the lead Hartwick College, who scored 153 points on opening night. Alfred University has 132 points, while SUNY Brockport has 130 points and Nazareth University finished day one with 40.
Alfred University first-year standout Andre Ayala opened the evening by winning the Empire 8 title in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 4:36.19. Two-time defending champion Cameron Drake of Hartwick finished as the runner-up
From there SUNY Geneseo flexed its muscle, winning the final four events of the evening, while setting a pair of Empire 8 Championship records.
Alex Palmer of set his first of two meet records on the night, winning the 200-yard individual medley by just over a second over teammate Connor Baird in a NCAA “B” cut qualifying time of 1:49.57. Palmer also broke the previous league record of 1:50.23 set by former teammate Griffin Merkling last season.
Geneseo’s 400-yard medley relay team of Dylan Gallub, Palmer, Baird and Jake Nielsen Merkling rolled to a five-second win in a championship record time of 3:20.51, shattering Geneseo’s mark of 3:21.01 set last season.
Geneseo diver Greg Meder broke 600 points in the 3-meter diving event with a score of 601.70. SUNY Brockport first-year standout Brenden Jardin-Reed was second with a score of 526.50.
Brian Pabisch of Geneseo took the 50-yard freestyle in a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 finish for the Knights, edging out Gallub, Nick Lemmo, Nielsen and Peter Peyser a time of 20.46 seconds.
Wednesday’s Finals Results
500-yard freestyle – Andre Ayala, Alfred – 4:36.19
200-yard individual medley – Alex Palmer, SUNY Geneseo – 1:49.57 – Empire 8 Championship and E8 All-Time Record, NCAA “B” Cut
50-yard freestyle – Brian Pabisch, SUNY Geneseo – :20.46
3-meter diving – Greg Meder, SUNY Geneseo – 601.70
400-yard medley relay – Dylan Gallub, Alex Palmer, Connor Baird, Jake Nielsen, SUNY Geneseo – 3:20.51
– Empire 8 Championship Record
2026 Empire 8 Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship Team Scores
SUNY Geneseo – 331
Hartwick – 153
Alfred – 132
SUNY Brockport – 130
Nazareth – 40
Day two action begins with the prelims at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Day two finals events begin at 5:30 p.m.