CANTON, Ga. – Trinity University has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the 2025 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship.
The Tigers topped the preseason poll with 47 points and five first-place votes. Rhodes followed closely in second with 43 points and two first-place nods, while Centre secured third with 37 points.
The poll was voted on by the league’s seven head coaches.
2025-26 SAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Preseason Poll
- Trinity – 47 (5)
- Rhodes – 43 (2)
- Centre – 37
- Berry – 31
- Southwestern – 28
- Sewanee – 27
- Millsaps – 18
Trinity enters the season looking to build on its runner-up finish at last year’s SCAC Championships, where the Tigers scored 1,034 points—just eight shy of the title. Leading the way is Luke Fender, the reigning SCAC Swimmer of the Meet, who broke his own school and conference records in the 1650 free. Fender is a CSCAA All-American and a five-time conference champion. Also returning are seven-time SCAC champion Nathan Perez, five-time champion William Walker, and four-time champion Trace Briones.
Rhodes, the two-time defending SAA Champion, looks to extend its dominance. The Lynx return Jack Whitten, a three-time 200 Breast champion and NCAA qualifier, as well as Philip Mu, last season’s 400 IM champion as a freshman. Also returning is Liam Ashton, the reigning 200 Fly champion.
The 2026 SAA Swimming and Diving Championship is set for February 11–14 at Champions Hall in Danville, Kentucky.
SAA Men’s Swimming & Diving All-time Champions
2025- Rhodes (1018)
2024 - Rhodes (898)
2023 - Birmingham-Southern (932)
2022 - Birmingham-Southern (594.5)
2021 - Birmingham-Southern (808)
2020 - Birmingham-Southern (915)
2019 - Birmingham-Southern (889)
2018 - Birmingham-Southern (1070)
2017 - Birmingham-Southern (1013.5)
2016 - Birmingham-Southern (725)
2015 - Birmingham-Southern (975)
2014 - Centre (861)
2013 - Centre (854.5)
For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at
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