Arianna Griffiths, Asst. Arts & Life Editor—
The Denison Women’s Swimming and Diving team recently won the 2023 NCAA Division III championship, winning this monumental title for the second time in the program’s history.
Teams from all over the nation traveled to the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, NC, for several days of fierce competition from which the Big Red Women’s Swimming and Diving team emerged as champions.
Five-time NCAA Division III All-American Emma Pritchett ‘25 was excited to be involved this year.
“After last season, I knew we had a shot,’’ said Pritchett about the team’s national championship triumph.
This was no easy victory: After having a surgery, she was more determined than ever to be cleared to swim again.
“I just knew that this year was the year, and when I found out that I needed surgery, I was, like, devastated, but also incredibly motivated to come back because I knew that if I could get back, this was our year and I wanted to be part of this,” she said.
Upon winning the coveted title, Pritchett recalls her team remaining respectful and sportsmanlike while engaging in victory traditions such as celebrating by leaping into the pool together as a team afterwards.
She said, “We got to jump in the pool and we just jumped around, it was a lot of fun being on the podium with that trophy”.
As for the team’s future performances in the next NCAA DIII championships, Pritchett said, “I know that if we have the same mindset we had this year and work through the hard days, we could do it again.”