After sending five men and eight women to the NCAA National Championships last season, the Case Western Reserve University men’s and women’s swim and dive teams have returned with strong momentum and are preparing for another highly competitive season.
Last season, the men’s team finished with a 5-1 record, their only loss coming against Carnegie Mellon University. While they placed sixth out of eight teams at the UAA Championship, the squad earned a 25th-place finish nationally at the NCAA Championships—their best performance since 1999, when they finished 23rd.
“I feel pretty excited,” fourth-year co-captain Adam Khatib said. “As my last year here, I really want to make the most of my season and spend time with my friends here. I think we have a really talented group that is ready to both compete and enjoy the season.”
During the weekend of Oct. 11, both teams kicked off their season at the Oberlin Early Season Invite. The men’s team delivered a standout performance, finishing first among four competing schools.
“The team had an incredible display this past weekend which sets us up beautifully for the rest of the season,” Khatib said. “Multiple people were within striking distance of their times, and the atmosphere was incredibly positive. Considering that this meet was held over a shorter timeframe, and that this is still early in the season, things are looking very promising for the rest of the year.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams were deeply impacted early this season by the loss of fourth-year student-athlete Emil LaSida, who passed away on Sept. 15 at the age of 21. LaSida was a standout competitor, having participated in the 2025 NCAA National Championship, where he broke his own CWRU Men’s Swimming & Diving record with a time of 19.98 seconds, becoming the first athlete in school history to swim under 20 seconds in the sprint event. His passing was a profound loss for the program. Khatib acknowledged not only the grief felt across the team, but also the resilience and unity that have emerged as teammates continue to support one another through this tragedy.
“Our strongest attribute is our resilience, in both a physical and mental sense,” Khatib said. “The fact that everyone was able to compete this weekend after losing a teammate and being pushed hard in the water to make up for the time we lost is proof of that. I think this trait is really going to shine during our midseason and championship meets, where the timeframe is longer and having the mental fortitude to continue swimming fast despite past races is vital.”
With a roster featuring 11 fourth-year athletes and 11 first-years, the team blends seasoned experience with fresh talent still acclimating to the program. Khatib acknowledged the challenges of managing expectations, but praised how the newcomers have adjusted and been welcomed by the squad.
“There has absolutely been a transition period that everyone has struggled with,” Khatib said. “The freshman class this year is large, resulting in many who come from different backgrounds, have different training styles, and expect different results. As there is a smaller junior and sophomore class, our senior class has had to set a strong example. Truthfully, the biggest problem between the experience gap is the expectations. Expectations about how difficult or easy college classes are, how the practices are run, and performances at competitions. After this first meet, I think most of the team is well adjusted and has found a routine that will help them.”
Khatib, entering his final season, has set high expectations for the team and expresses full confidence in their ability to achieve them.
“I hope that we can have the same level of success as last year,” Khatib said. “We had a phenomenal season. For the men specifically, this was a massive accomplishment and one that I hope we can repeat this year, or potentially do better. Our freshman class is very strong, and we have the chance of bringing more people to nationals with our depth.”
The women’s team has also gotten off to a strong start, finishing first out of five teams at the Oberlin Early Season Invite alongside the men.
Fourth-year 100 and 200-yard butterfly swimmer Kailyn Smith said she hopes to savor her final season as a Spartan and encourages her teammates to do the same.
“I’m of the opinion that setting high expectations does more harm than good,” Smith said. “I always swim the best when I take pressure off myself and have a bit of fun, so my hopes for the season are that we will take it one swim at a time, and enjoy every second of it.”
The Spartans closed out last season with strong performances. The team finished 17th overall at the NCAA National Championship, marking a tie for the fifth-best national finish in program history.
Smith said the team’s success stems from the strong connections and genuine care the athletes have for one another. She expressed appreciation for the supportive team environment that everyone has worked hard to cultivate.
“People are extremely supportive of one another, be that in the pool, the classroom, or socially,” Smith said. “I think our bond has grown stronger over the years, and the team is very tightly knit.
This is also a place where you can be yourself, as any judgement or negativity is quickly shut down.”
The women’s team features a balanced roster across all class years, including eight first-years, six second-years, six third-years and eight fourth-years. Smith acknowledged the impact of the looming graduation of the current fourth-years but expressed confidence that the younger athletes will carry forward the team’s competitive spirit.
“The team is going to lose quite a few seniors this year, but our underclassmen are very talented and will continue to grow and improve after we’re gone,” Smith said. “I think the team will recover quickly.”
The men’s and women’s teams will compete at Ohio Wesleyan University on Oct. 25 as they gear up for the UAA Championships from Feb. 11–14, the NCAA Diving Regional on Feb. 27–28 and the NCAA National Championships from March 18–21.