Pitt
NCAA Women's Championships
Pitt Women Finish Historic Season With Highest NCAA Team Finish in 29 Years
3/23/2025 1:52:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
FEDERAL WAY, WA – The Pitt women capped off their historic season by setting two more school records on Saturday and having their highest NCAA finish in 29 years, finishing tied for 27th.
"Words can't express how proud I am of our women's team this year." Head Coach Chase Kreitler stated. "The NCAA Championship meet we had was a direct result of three years worth of work the team and staff have been putting into our program. The shift in culture, attention to detail and relentless work showed up in Championship Season as our women's team had their highest Team Finish at NCAAs in 29 years, our highest ACC Team Finish ever (8th) in the new "Super 15 Team ACC," and qualified all 5 relays for NCAAs in school history."
Women's Season Highlights
- Highest NCAA Team Finish in 29 years (Tied for 27th)
- First Female All-American Swimmer since 1986 (Sophie Yendell, 50 Free)
- Tied the 1996 team for the second-most points ever scored in Pitt's NCAA History (three behind the 24 points scored in 1983 for an 18th place finish)
- Seven Program Records broken at the NCAA's (200 Free Lead Off, 800 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly, 400 Free Relay)
- The first time since 1985 that two swimmers have scored in the NCAA Championships individually (Sophie Yendell in the 50 Free, Claire Jansen in the 100 Back)
- First time two student-athletes scored at an NCAA Championships since 1996 (two divers scored)
- First time in school history Pitt qualified all 5 Relays for the NCAA Championships
- 7-1 in dual meets (only loss came to the Big Ten Champion Ohio State Buckeyes)
- Started 7-0, best start to a season since 1985-86
- 26 School Records broken this year
- 13 at ACC's (800 FR, 200 IM (2X), 50 Free (2x), 200 FR, 400 IM, 100 Back (2x), 400 MR, 200 Back, 100 Free, 400 FR)
- Five at Mid-Season – Texas Invitational (200 FR, 200 MR, 400 MR, 400 FR, 400 IM)
- Seven at NCAA's (200 Free Lead Off, 800 FR, 400 MR, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly, 400 FR)
"Throughout the ACC and NCAA Championships our women's team broke an astounding 24 school records," Kreitler continued. "Sophie Yendell becoming our first women's swimmer to be named an All-American in 39 years was absolutely incredible. She has been a phenomenal leader for our program and set the tone for the future of Pitt Swimming & Diving. This is a truly special team and one of the highlights of my 16-year collegiate coaching career. Hail to Pitt!"
Claire Jansen re-set her school record in the 200 Back on Saturday while the women set a new program-best time in the 400 Free Relay.
The 400 Free Relay team of Avery Kudlac, Sydney Gring, Sophie Yendell and Claire Jansen swam a 3:13.83 and set Pitt's seventh and final school record of the week.
Since Chase Kreitler has taken the reins of Pitt's swimming and diving program in 2023, the 400 Free Relay has been improved by nearly ten seconds. In 2022, the relay went 3:22.0 at the ACC Championships. They have since gone 3:18.6 in 2023, 3:15.9 last year and 3:13.8 this season.
Jansen, who earned H.M. All-America honors on Friday, placed 25th in the 200 Back with her school record time of 1:53.28 today. She set two individual records and two relay records at the NCAA Championships this week.
Up Next
Five Panthers will compete in the Men's Swimming and Diving Championships next week from March 26-29.
Players Mentioned
