Hickory, NC – The Wheeling University Men’s Swimming team kicked off 2026 with excitement, showing promise in their recent meet against Lenoir-Rhyne University. Despite a loss with a score of 167-87, the team’s young talent shone through with several strong performances.
Leading the way was Archie Pigott, who continues to impress this season. He secured three top-two finishes, excelling particularly in the breaststroke. Pigott ranks 6th in the Mountain East Conference, showcasing his strong breaststroke technique. He achieved his best time in the 200 Breaststroke, winning with a time of 2:14.75. He narrowly missed winning the 100 Breaststroke, finishing with a time of 1:02.80. His skills also helped him secure second place in the 200 Individual Medley with a time of 2:04.14.
The relay events also highlighted Wheeling’s potential. The team took second place in both the 400 medley and the 200 freestyle relays. In the 400 medley relay, Pigott teamed up with Aristeidis Dimakis, Meiko Schonekes, and Nathaniel Olivares to finish in 3:42.29. The 200 freestyle relay team, made up of Segmen Duygun, Sarp Kilic, Thomas Currie, and Patrick Kirby, completed the race in 1:32.09.
In addition to Pigott’s standout performances, several other swimmers earned individual recognition. Kirby captured silver in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:55.67. Jordan Kraft followed closely with a second-place finish in the 200 Butterfly at 2:21.92. Olivares also shone in the sprint events, taking silver in the 50 Freestyle with a time of 22.28. Schonekes rounded out the strong individual finishes, achieving a silver medal in the 100 Butterfly at 55.79 seconds.
Dimakis also contributed significantly to the team’s success, earning two medals including bronze in the 200 IM. Other bronze winners included Segmen Duygun in the 1000 Freestyle (10:46.65), Evan Yost in the 100 Backstroke (1:00.10), and Matthew Charlesworth in the 100 Breaststroke (1:04.66). Levi Parker secured a solid 4th place in the 200 Backstroke with a time of 2:22.24.
The team’s diverse talent and competitive spirit suggest a promising season ahead. As they prepare for their next meet against Fairmont State on January 17th, fans and teammates alike are excited to see how these young athletes will continue to develop.
For more insights into the world of college swimming and athletics, you can visit NCAA swimming statistics at [NCAA](https://www.ncaa.com). This resource provides updates on conference rankings and player performance throughout the season.
