CANTON, Ga. – Fender of Trinity and Toth of Centre claim athlete of the week honors in the Southern Athletic Association.
Around the SAA:
SAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Schedule/Results
SAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Performance List
2026 SAA Swimming & Diving Championship
Athletes of the Week:
Swimming:
Luke Fender | Trinity | SO | Jackson, MS – Sophomore Luke Fender was the Tigers’ top point scorer en route to a team win at the Colonel Classic. He won the 1650, beating the defending SAA champion, while posting a time time just 10 seconds off his season best (15:54.51). He was also runner up in the 200 free in 1:43.21 and placed third in the 500 freestyle with a 4:43.59. On the winning 800 free relay Luke posted a split of 1:43.85. He anchored the second place 400 free relay with a 46.53. Luke also split 47.80 on the 400 medley relay.
Diving:
Justin Toth | Centre | SR | Pensacola, FL – Justin Toth won both dive competitions at this weekend's Colonel Classic. On day 1, he dominated the 1-meter board with a winning score of 359.65 points and a margin of victory of 82.60 points. On day 2, he took the win on the 3-meter board with 339.20 points to win by 31.40 points.
Notable Performances:
Swimming
- Nick Fonzo | Berry | JR | Carlsbad, CA –A junior from Carlsbad, CA Fonzo helped lead the Vikings to a big 179-83 home meet win over Oswego State. Fonzo won all three of his events and also helped lead the Vikings to a win in the 200 Medley Relay. Fonzo led the meet off splitting a 24.53 as the Vikings won the 200 Medley Relay in 1:37.31. Then he swept all three of his individual races winning the 100 Back in 53.61, the 200 Free in 1:48.44 and then the 200 IM in 2:03.23.
- Ryder Griffin | Sewanee | FR | Carrollton, GA – Ryder Griffin delivered a standout performance for the Tigers in the pool this weekend, collecting four podium finishes, including two first-place finishes. Griffin took home first in the 200 fly with a time of 2:10.33 and the 400 IM with a time of 4:35.09. The freshman helped his 200 medley relay team to a second-place finish, swimming the freestyle leg with a time of 22.17. Griffin also added a third-place finish in the 100 free with a time of 51.18.
Diving
- Jonah Kearns | Sewanee | FR | Lexington, KY – Jonah Kearns had a record-setting weekend on the boards for the Tigers, breaking a Sewanee record on the 1-meter. Kears won both diving events this weekend, claiming first on the 1-meter board with a score of 316.50, which established a new Sewanee school record for six-dives. His score fell just 0.16 points shy of the Fowler Centre pool record. Kearns also picked up another first-place finish on the 3-meter board with a score of 300.45.
- Max Rolla-Mullis | Trinity | SR | Ann Arbor, MI – Junior Max Rolla-Mullis placed fifth on both boards at the Colonel Classic this weekend. He scored 206.70 on one meter and 212.4 on three meter.
2025-2026 Men’s Swim and Dive Report Archive (AOW Swimmer/Diver)
Week One – Sept. 23 Jonas Hostetler / Parson Simmons
Week Two – Sept. 30 Josh Denckhoff / Parson Simmons
Week Three – Oct. 7 Jonah Kearns
Week Four – Oct. 14 Jack Liau / Garrett George
Week Five – Oct. 21 Daniel Apostol / Justin Toth
Week Six – Oct. 28 Andrew Olsen / Garrett George
Week Seven - Nov. 3 Nick Fonzo / Max Rolla-Mullis
Week Eight - Nov. 10 Andrew Olsen / Justin Toth
Week Nine - Nov. 24 Jimmie Hester / Garrett George
Week Ten - Jan. 5 Jimmie Hester / Max Rolla-Mullis
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 www.saa-sports.com. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Southern Athletic Association news by following @SAA_Sports on Twitter (X) and @SAA_Sports on Instagram.