Emory Swim and Dive Teams Opened 2026-27 Season
The Emory University squads kicked off their latest campaign with the annual Blue-Gold intrasquad meet.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Swimming
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Emory University swim and dive teams officially began their 2026-27 season with the traditional Blue-Gold intrasquad competition. Athletes recently participated in a clinic led by Olympian Olivia Smoliga to refine their goals for the year.
Why it matters
The annual meet serves as a crucial early-season benchmark for swimmers looking to maintain the universitys legacy of excellence. The program continues to prepare for high-stakes competition following strong finishes in national and conference events last year.
The Gold team secured victories in both categories, finishing the men's intrasquad event 184-110 and the women's event 160-113. These results follow a season where the men's team celebrated 27 consecutive UAA titles and 25 straight top-five NCAA finishes.
The players
Olivia Smoliga
She is an Olympic swimmer who led a clinic for the Emory University teams to help athletes cultivate confidence and set goals.
Emory University
This is a private research university in Atlanta that fields highly successful NCAA Division III swim and dive programs.
Ben Pritchard
He is an Emory swimmer who placed fourth in the NCAA 1650-yard freestyle last season.
Natalie Boorjian
She is an Emory swimmer who achieved a seventh-place finish nationally in the 200-yard freestyle last spring.
Georgia Institute of Technology
This is a public research university in Atlanta scheduled to host the Emory swim teams for a dual meet.
The details
The program enters the season with significant momentum, including returners like Ben Pritchard and Natalie Boorjian, who earned top finishes nationally last year. Training at the Madeleine Jude Brown Aquatic Center remains the focal point for the teams as they look toward upcoming championship cycles.
Timeline
The Blue-Gold intrasquad meet occurred on September 18, 2026.
A dual meet against Georgia Institute of Technology is set for September 26, 2026.
Conference and NCAA championships will occur in February and March 2027.
The Big Picture
The team's season trajectory is measured against the standards of the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships. This opening competition serves as the first step in aligning current training performance with the benchmarks set during that major event.
The teams move directly from the intrasquad meet to a dual meet against the Georgia Institute of Technology. These early events provide the necessary qualifying metrics and race-pace conditioning required for the championship season ahead.
The takeaway
Maintaining consistent performance throughout the long season is critical for athletes preparing for high-level national competition. Setting clear early-season goals is a practice that can help any athlete bridge the gap between training and meet-day success.
Further reading
For additional information on collegiate competitions, visit the Swimming section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Emory Wheel.
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