NCAA Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University senior Brayden Slavik (Green Isle, Minn./Chaska) qualified for the 2026 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships, scheduled for March 18-21 at the Indiana University Indianapolis Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind., for the second-straight season in the 1,650-yard freestyle.

The NCAA announced the selections this morning (Friday, Feb. 27). The top 16 times in each individual event advanced to the national meet.

The 1,650-yard freestyle is scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 21, in Indianapolis, Ind. Slavik will also compete in the 500-yard freestyle (Wednesday, March 18) and 400-yard individual medley (Thursday, March 19).

The MIAC Swimmer of the Year for the second-straight season in 2026, Slavik won all three of his individual events – the 400-yard individual medley (3:57.55), 500-yard freestyle (4:29.70) and 1,650-yard freestyle (15:32.16) as SJU finished third out of six teams Feb. 11-14 at the 2026 MIAC Championships.

His time in the 1,650-yard freestyle was the fourth-fastest in Division III this season, while his other two times were in the top 30: 24th in the 500-yard freestyle and 27th in the 400-yard individual medley.

The titles in the 400-yard individual medley and 1,650-yard freestyle were his third-straight and the 500-yard freestyle was his second. All three times were NCAA B cuts.

Slavik's time of 15:32.16 in the 1,650-yard freestyle was a meet-, SJU- and MIAC-record time, while his time in the 400-yard individual medley also broke his own SJU record. His 4:29.70 in the 500-yard freestyle was the second-fastest time in school history, 0:00.21 away from his own school record set at last year's conference meet.

He ended his conference career as a nine-time MIAC champion (eight individual and one relay) and 16-time All-MIAC honoree (top three at the conference meet). His eight individual MIAC crowns tied the program record owned by Matt Zelen '99.

Slavik earned All-America honorable mention with a 15th-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships.

One of Slavik's teammates – junior Cody Watts (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) – competes at the NCAA Central Regional this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28, at Kalamazoo College's Natatorium in Kalamazoo, Mich.