The Tufts University swimming and diving team delivered some outstanding performances at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships in Greensboro, N.C. For the men’s team, the meet marked the Jumbos’ best overall finish since 2018, and both the men and women displayed remarkable grit and camaraderie throughout the four-day competition.
The 200 medley relay team earned the title of co-national champions on March 21. The champion squad, consisting of seniors Eric Lundgren, Emmett Adams and Soeren Euvrard, and junior Armaan Sikka, achieved a time of 1:26.72.
In an email to the Daily, Adams wrote that the team’s preparation for the meet was precise and calculated. “I was able to feel it at the meet,” Adams wrote, “I felt very strong.” That strength pushed the four men’s swimmers to a hard-fought first-place win, tying with Emory University and securing Tufts’ first-ever relay title.
Along with the relays, there were plenty of newsworthy individual performances throughout the meet. Lundgren broke his own school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 47.27, finishing fourth. Adams had an impressive swim to get into eighth place in the 100 breaststroke, and the Jumbos continued their momentum, adding on more All-American performances throughout the weekend.
“I have a lot of feelings about my final swims,” Adams reflected. As a senior, this performance marks the end of his Tufts athletic career. Although he described the feeling as bittersweet, it was all positive. “I couldn’t have asked for a more fortunate way to go out,” he wrote.
Some of the most outstanding swims of the meet came from the relay teams. The 400 medley relay secured an All-American sixth-place finish. Sophomore Rafae Shafi swam the 800 freestyle relay, finishing eighth and setting a school record in the opening 200.
With some historic firsts and every single swimmer showing unrelenting competitiveness, the Jumbos ended the meet with a lot to be proud of, placing seventh overall in Division III.
The women’s squad showed incredible spirit and strength that remained unwavering each day, and their overall performance ended with several All-Americans titles earned over the course of the weekend.
With numerous individual performances to show for over the weekend, junior Madeleine Dunn earned two significant All-American honors. She finished sixth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:53.35 and followed up with another sixth-place finish in the 1650 freestyle, clocking an impressive 16:50.82.
Several swimmers set new school records and personal bests at the meet. Sophomore Elena Harrison shattered her own school record in the 100 backstroke with a 55.70-second leg during the 400 medley relay.
Making a case for the promising future of Jumbo swimming, sophomore Sydney Stasz earned her first All-American honor in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:06.91. First-year Noa Chambers also received her first All-American award, placing 15th in the 200 backstroke.
Graduate student Jillian Cudney concluded her career with 17 All-American honors, the most in school history.
In an email to the Daily, Cudney wrote about her competitive fire and the driving factors that have enabled her to achieve all that she has in her years as a Jumbo. “What motivates me is the pursuit of doing one little bit better every time I compete,” she wrote.
Ultimately, the women’s swim team left the NCAA Championships with their seniors making several poetic finishes and their first-years showing the competition what the next three years will have in store for them.
“Everyone embodied a champion mindset,” Cudney wrote, tipping her cap to her teammates’ effort and spirit.
The season for Tufts swim and dive required true endurance and was not without struggle. Adams used the word “change” to describe what his vision for the past year had looked like. He wrote with a positive outlook on his younger teammates, “I know that the rising seniors will be able to take things that we’ve tried to implement/seeds that we’ve planted and do great things in the coming year.” As a leader and talented swimmer, his belief is more than credible.
Cudney’s thoughts reflected a similar sentiment. “I am proud of what this team accomplished, and I am excited to see where the team goes from here,” she wrote. Cudney has also been an excellent leader, and there is no doubt that she will be eagerly watching to see that vision of the future through.
Ending their season with new school records and high achieving athletes all around has set the bar high for next season. The Jumbos already have much to be proud of, but they’re still hungry for more.
