Ohio State returns to the NCAA Championships conversation with one of the youngest and most intact cores in the country. After scoring 87 points and finishing just outside the top 12 in 2026, the Buckeyes lose almost no major scoring power and add promising pieces.
The big question is simple: Can this group finally turn strong Big Ten performances into a top-10 national finish?
2025-26 Lookback
Ohio State scored 87 points at the 2026 NCAA Championships, up 20 points from the previous year and good enough to finish ahead of Wisconsin. Four of the five individual scorers were sophomores. Senior diver Lena Hentschel was the lone non-sophomore in the top five scorers.
Mila Nikanorov led the team with 14 points (5th in the 1650 free). Maria Ramos Najji added 13 points (6th in the 100 breast), and diver Mia Prusiecki scored 12 points (7th on platform). Emma Finlin contributed nine points in the mile.
At the Big Ten Championships the Buckeyes finished third with 1,066 points, just 18.5 behind Indiana.
Event-by-Event Breakdown
Sprint Free: ★★
Rachel Bockrath showed real scoring potential at Big Tens with times that would have placed her 10th in both the 100 and 200 free at NCAAs. She just needs to bring those times to the national meet. Sienna Angove and transfer Morgan Lukinac give the group added depth.
Distance Free: ★★★½
This is Ohio State’s clearest strength. Nikanorov, Finlin, Angove, and Adair Shaw all return. The group scored 23 points last year and loses no one. Nikanorov is a heavy favorite to contend for another high place in the 1650. If the others match or beat their best times, Ohio State could score in multiples in the distance events.
Backstroke: ★
Still the weakest area. KK LeBlanc and Delia Lloyd return with lifetime bests that sit just outside scoring range. Improvement and experience will be required to crack the scoring column.
Breaststroke: ★★★
Maria Ramos Najji is the clear headliner after her 6th-place finish in the 100 breast. Another step forward could put her in medal contention. Depth behind her remains limited but serviceable.
Butterfly: ★½
Carrie Furbee and Lorin Tobler return, but the biggest addition is freshman Anna Shnowske. Her 1:55.04 lifetime best in the 200 fly already sits under the NCAA cut and just outside last year’s scoring. She gives the group a realistic path to points.
IM: ★
Sienna Angove owns the best upside if she chooses to race the 400 IM at NCAAs. Paige Delma also returns with times that put her near the scoring bubble.
Diving: ★★½
Lena Hentschel’s 13 points are gone, but Mia Prusiecki (12 points on platform) returns along with several other NCAA qualifiers. Diving remains a reliable secondary scoring area.
Relays: ★★
Every NCAA relay swimmer returns. Morgan Lukinac and Anna Shnowske should only help. The 400 free and 800 free relays already scored last year and have clear paths to move up.
Overall Outlook
Ohio State’s total grade sits at 16.5 out of 40 — solid for a program sitting just outside the top 12. The ceiling is higher.
The Buckeyes bring back nearly every scorer, add useful pieces, and now have a year of NCAA experience under their belts. The biggest variable remains performance under the brighter lights of the national meet. Many swimmers added time from Big Tens to NCAAs last year. Closing that gap is the difference between another mid-teens finish and a real top-10 push.
Nikanorov, Bockrath, Angove, and Najji will set the tone. If the distance group delivers and a couple of secondary events chip in points, Ohio State has a legitimate chance to climb.
The foundation is young, deep in the right places, and almost fully intact. For a program that just moved back into the national conversation, 2026-27 looks like a genuine opportunity year.
13. FAQ Section
Who is Ohio State’s top returning scorer?
Mila Nikanorov, who scored 14 points with a 5th-place finish in the 1650 free.
How many major scorers did Ohio State lose?
Almost none from the swimming side. The main loss was senior diver Lena Hentschel (13 points).
What is Ohio State’s strongest event group?
Distance freestyle, graded ★★★½.
Can Ohio State finish in the top 10?
Yes if the group replicates or improves its Big Ten times at the NCAA Championships.
Who are the key newcomers?
Brown transfer Morgan Lukinac and freshman Anna Shnowske.
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