FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Washington and Lee University men's swimming team opened its 2026-27 season with a 156-106 nonconference victory over the University of Mary Washington on Friday evening at Goolrick Natatorium. The Generals claimed nine event victories, including three from Leighton Chapman, to begin the season 1-0.
Washington and Lee (1-0) won nine of the 14 contested events, with Chapman and Logan Divine leading the way. Chapman swept the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events and contributed to the winning 400-yard medley relay, while Divine earned individual victories in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly and also swam on the winning relay. The Generals also received individual victories from Owen Cullaty, Ryan Smith, Ben Blomgren and William Thomas. W&L swept the top three positions in the 500 freestyle and placed at least one swimmer or relay among the top three in all 14 events.
Up Next: Washington and Lee returns to action Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Generals travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., to face Carnegie Mellon University. The dual meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
W&L Event Winners
Notable Performances
- Chapman led the Generals with two individual victories, taking the 50 freestyle in 20.91 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 46.58. He edged Mary Washington's Rece Storer by just 0.01 seconds in the 50 freestyle and anchored W&L's winning 400 medley relay.
- Divine added two individual victories, winning the 200 freestyle (1:45.90) by 0.42 seconds and the 100 butterfly (51.08). He also swam the butterfly leg of the victorious 400 medley relay.
- The Generals swept the top three positions in the 500 freestyle, with Thomas leading Lucas Chacon (5:00.64) and Erik Szabo (5:04.85). Thomas also placed third in the 200 freestyle (1:46.41).
- Smith captured the 200 backstroke in 1:56.27 after placing second in the 100 backstroke (52.48). Blomgren added a victory in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.69) and finished second in the 100 breaststroke (59.22).
- Cullaty won the 200 butterfly in 1:58.97, while Zane Ross placed third (2:00.20). Ross also took second in the 100 butterfly (51.66), giving the Generals a 1-2 finish in the event.
- W&L opened the meet with a victory in the 400 medley relay, as Smith, Blomgren, Divine and Chapman finished in 3:27.20, edging Mary Washington by 0.57 seconds. The Generals also placed third in the event with Cooper Tinsley, Luke Dinusson-Wiger, Ross and Elijah Koh (3:37.27).
- Washington and Lee closed the meet with second- and third-place finishes in the 200 freestyle relay. Chapman, Smith, Koh and William Gordon took second (1:25.48), while George Libecco, Divine, Jackson Brooks and Ross placed third (1:28.68).
- Koh added a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle (47.92), while Dean Smith placed third in the 1,000 freestyle (10:36.60) and Reid Vandervoort took third in the 200 individual medley (2:05.27).
By the Numbers
- Final Score: Washington and Lee 156, Mary Washington 106
- Total Events: 14
- Event Wins: 9 of 14
- Winning Percentage: 64.3%
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
