Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, January 30
Evanston, Ill.
5 p.m. CT / 11 a.m.
Northwestern
214
vs
139
Minnesota
Wildcat Men Sweep Purdue, Minnesota, Women Split
2/1/2026 7:29:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern swimming and diving concluded regular season action this weekend in a tri-dual against Minnesota and Purdue. No. 20 Northwestern men's swimming and diving swept Purdue, 181-172 and Minnesota, 214-139. No. 23 Wildcat women's swimming and diving defeated Purdue 213-140, then fell to RV Minnesota 186-166, inside Norris Aquatics Center.
"I thought we had some really great swims today," director of swimming and diving Rachel Stratton-Mills said. "Our men continued to prove that they're an elite team and can compete at a really high level. On the women's side, we had several 'Cats step up and deliver some really strong performances. We're looking forward to turning the page to the next phase and competing at Big Tens later this month."
The Wildcats won seven out of eight relays contested over two days of action in Evanston. The 'Cats claimed victories in both 200 medley relays, both 800 free relays and both 200 free relays, while the Wildcat men placed first in the 400 free relay.
Stuart Seymour led all Wildcat men, claiming event victories in all six events he participated in. Individually, Seymour picked up wins in the 100 back (45.38 seconds) and 100 fly (45.65 seconds). The junior participated in all four victorious Wildcat relays.
Joshua Staples also picked up five event wins for the 'Cats, and led all Wildcat men with three individual first-place finishes. In the 200 breast, Staples posted a personal-best and punched his ticket to NCAAs in March with an NCAA Qualifying Standard time of 1:54.71. Staples also touched first in the 100 breast (52.39 seconds) and 400 IM (3:44.95).
Cade Duncan also secured an event victory in the 100 free, posting a time of 42.68 seconds.
In addition to three first-place finishes in four relays, the Northwestern women showed their depth, with five different Wildcats winning an individual event.
Ekaterina Nikonova picked up a win in the 100 free, clocking in at 48.57 seconds. Additionally, Nikonova posted a season-best NCAA Qualifying Standard time of 22.25 seconds in the 50 free, placing second.
Lindsay Ervin just narrowly edged out Nikonova in the 50 free to secure the top two spots for the 'Cats, touching in 22.21 seconds.
Sydney Smith picked up a win in the 200 free with a time of 1:45.27.
First-year Kayla Rodriguez swam a personal-best 2:13.56 in the 200 breast to place first.
Grey Davis claimed a first-place finish in the 200 IM with a season-best time of 1:59.36.
While the Northwestern swimmers competed in Evanston, the Wildcat divers traveled to West Lafayette, Ind., competing at Purdue's Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center.
Isabella Chen picked up a third-place finish in platform (249.10), while Caroline Li led all Wildcat women in 3-meter (280.95).
Kyle Ly paced the Wildcat men in diving action, placing fifth in platform (363.70) and sixth in 3-meter (357.50).
TEAM SCORES
Men:
#20 Northwestern 214 - Minnesota 139
#20 Northwestern 181 - Purdue 172
Women:
#23 Northwestern 213 - Purdue 140
RV Minnesota 186 - #23 Northwestern 166
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will compete at the Big Ten Championships. Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships are set for Feb. 18-21 in Minneapolis, Minn., while Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships are set for Feb. 25-28 in Madison, Wis.
"I thought we had some really great swims today," director of swimming and diving Rachel Stratton-Mills said. "Our men continued to prove that they're an elite team and can compete at a really high level. On the women's side, we had several 'Cats step up and deliver some really strong performances. We're looking forward to turning the page to the next phase and competing at Big Tens later this month."
HOW IT HAPPENEDDouble ??'s ??
— Northwestern Swimming & Diving (@NUSwimDive) January 31, 2026
NU Men's S&D takes down Minnesota and Purdue in the tri-meet.
NU 214 - MINN 139
NU 181 - PUR 172 pic.twitter.com/I1j9qnVC1w
The Wildcats won seven out of eight relays contested over two days of action in Evanston. The 'Cats claimed victories in both 200 medley relays, both 800 free relays and both 200 free relays, while the Wildcat men placed first in the 400 free relay.
Stuart Seymour led all Wildcat men, claiming event victories in all six events he participated in. Individually, Seymour picked up wins in the 100 back (45.38 seconds) and 100 fly (45.65 seconds). The junior participated in all four victorious Wildcat relays.
Joshua Staples also picked up five event wins for the 'Cats, and led all Wildcat men with three individual first-place finishes. In the 200 breast, Staples posted a personal-best and punched his ticket to NCAAs in March with an NCAA Qualifying Standard time of 1:54.71. Staples also touched first in the 100 breast (52.39 seconds) and 400 IM (3:44.95).
Cade Duncan also secured an event victory in the 100 free, posting a time of 42.68 seconds.
In addition to three first-place finishes in four relays, the Northwestern women showed their depth, with five different Wildcats winning an individual event.
Ekaterina Nikonova picked up a win in the 100 free, clocking in at 48.57 seconds. Additionally, Nikonova posted a season-best NCAA Qualifying Standard time of 22.25 seconds in the 50 free, placing second.
Lindsay Ervin just narrowly edged out Nikonova in the 50 free to secure the top two spots for the 'Cats, touching in 22.21 seconds.
Sydney Smith picked up a win in the 200 free with a time of 1:45.27.
First-year Kayla Rodriguez swam a personal-best 2:13.56 in the 200 breast to place first.
Grey Davis claimed a first-place finish in the 200 IM with a season-best time of 1:59.36.
While the Northwestern swimmers competed in Evanston, the Wildcat divers traveled to West Lafayette, Ind., competing at Purdue's Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center.
Isabella Chen picked up a third-place finish in platform (249.10), while Caroline Li led all Wildcat women in 3-meter (280.95).
Kyle Ly paced the Wildcat men in diving action, placing fifth in platform (363.70) and sixth in 3-meter (357.50).
TEAM SCORES
Men:
#20 Northwestern 214 - Minnesota 139
#20 Northwestern 181 - Purdue 172
Women:
#23 Northwestern 213 - Purdue 140
RV Minnesota 186 - #23 Northwestern 166
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will compete at the Big Ten Championships. Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships are set for Feb. 18-21 in Minneapolis, Minn., while Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships are set for Feb. 25-28 in Madison, Wis.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
B1G Tri Meet vs Purdue & Minnesota - Saturday
Friday, January 30
B1G Tri Meet vs Purdue & Minnesota - Friday
Friday, January 30
Swimming vs. Wisconsin - Scoring
Saturday, January 17
Diving vs. Wisconsin
Saturday, January 17
