DECORAH, Iowa - The Nebraska Wesleyan women's swimming team won their first team championship in program history with a wire-to-wire victory at the 2026 American Rivers Conference Championships that finished on Saturday on the Luther College campus. The Prairie Wolves led the team race most of the way, going back and forth with Luther College in the 2026 Championships and finished with 662 points to out-distance runner-up Luther (597). It was the Prairie Wolves first conference championship in program history and under head coach Kyle Hunt who is in the midst of his 6th season at the helm of the Nebraska Wesleyan swimming program.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Day 1
Nebraska Wesleyan set the tone immediately with a victory in the 200 medley relay. The quartet of Haylee Nebola, Elena Lazzaretto, Hannah Gibbs and Lydi O'Neil touched in 1:46.58 to claim the opening event. The Prairie Wolves followed with a runner-up finish in the 800 freestyle relay, positioning themselves squarely in the team race after the first night.

Day 2
Luther briefly seized the team lead, 222-214, after a strong second day. Nebraska Wesleyan countered with key individual performances. Lazzaretto won the 200 individual medley in 2:09.65, while Nebola added a third-place finish. O'Neil and Beatrice Massa Micon placed second and third in the 50 freestyle, keeping the Prairie Wolves within striking distance. A narrow runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay capped the night and prevented the Norse from pulling away.

Day 3
Nebraska Wesleyan reclaimed control Friday, building a 455-399 advantage heading into the final day. Lazzaretto continued her standout meet with a victory in the 100 breaststroke after setting a championship record in prelims (1:06.44). The Prairie Wolves closed the session emphatically, winning the 200 freestyle relay in a championship-record 1:35.30 as Massa Micon, Lazzaretto, Gibbs and O'Neil delivered a pivotal swing in points.

Day 4
With the title within reach, Nebraska Wesleyan finished the job Saturday. Ryleigh Schroeter placed second in the 1,650 freestyle before Nebola captured the 200 backstroke in 2:06.13. Lazzaretto added another gold in the 200 breaststroke, and Sydney Leslie claimed the 200 butterfly. The final statement came in the 400 freestyle relay, where Massa Micon, Lazzaretto, Meyer and O'Neil won in a championship-record 3:32.05, sealing the historic team title.

ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS

• Ryleigh Schroeter
  • (1650 Freestyle) - 2nd Place
  • (200 Freestyle) - 2nd Place
  • (500 Freestyle) - 3rd Place
• Haylee Nebola
  • (200 Backstroke) - A-R-C CHAMPION
  • (100 Backstroke) - 3rd Place
  • (200 IM) - 3rd Place
• Lydi O'Neil
  • (100 Freestyle) - 2nd Place
  • (200 Freestyle) - 2nd Place
  • (50 Freestyle) - 2nd Place
• Elena Lazzaretto
  • (200 Breaststroke) - A-R-C CHAMPION
  • (100 Breaststroke) - A-R-C CHAMPION & Championship Record
  • (200 IM) - A-R-C CHAMPION
• Ciara Wookey (200 Breaststroke) - 3rd Place
• Sydney Leslie
  • (200 Butterfly) - A-R-C CHAMPION
  • (100 Butterfly) - 3rd Place
• Hannah Gibbs (100 Butterfly) - 2nd Place
• Wesley Hill (100 Breaststroke) - 2nd Place
• Beatrice Massa Micon
  • (100 Backstroke) - 2nd Place
  • (50 Freestyle) - 3rd Place
• Nebraska Wesleyan 400 Freestyle Relay (Massa Micon, Lazzaretto, Meyer, O'Neil) - A-R-C CHAMPION
• Nebraska Wesleyan 200 Freestyle Relay (Massa Micon, Lazzaretto, Gibbs, O'Neil) - A-R-C CHAMPION, all-time and championship record
• Nebraska Wesleyan 400 Medley Relay (Nebola, Lazzaretto, Leslie, Massa Micon) - 2nd Place
• Nebraska Wesleyan 200 Medley Relay (Nebola, Lazzaretto, Gibbs, O'Neil) - A-R-C CHAMPION
• Nebraska Wesleyan 800 Freestyle Relay (Massa Micon, O'Neil, Nebola, Schroeter) - A-R-C CHAMPION