The 2026 American Rivers Conference Swimming and Diving Championships is in the books. The team title was decided in the final race of the four-day meet, the 400 freestyle relay. Entering this race, Luther held a three-point lead over Nebraska Wesleyan University (580-577). NWU won the race by .33 seconds, posting a time of (3:08.31). Luther was second touching the wall at (3:08.64), the fifth fastest time in school history. The Prairie Wolves won the title with 609 points and the Norse were second with 606. The top-three place finishers in each event earned all-conference honors.

During the four-days of competition, the Norse earned a combined 22 all-conference honors that included eight conference meet championships. They set two meet records, one pool record and posted 16 new program top-10 marks. 

Kevin Kretz (100 freestyle), Drew Chamberlain (100 and 200 backstroke), and Gabe Armstrong (100 and 200 breaststroke) earned their fourth all-conference honors. Kretz was the conference champion in the 100 freestyle in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Chamberlain was the conference champion in the 100 backstroke for the third consecutive year and second year in a row in the 200 backstroke. 

Colin Halverson was named the Men's Diver of the Meet for the third and final time of his career (2023, 2025, 2026). Halverson won both the one-meter (for the second time - 2023, 2026) and three-meter (for the third time - 2023, 2025, 2026) competitions. He set a meet record and school record on the one-meter board of (507.35).

Head Coach Aaron Zander and his staff were named the Men's Coaching Staff of the Year also for the third time (2023, 2025, 2026).

Norse Divers Halverson and Amir Womack both recorded NCAA III qualifying marks on the one-meter and three-meter boards and will be competing at the NCAA III Regional Diving Championships, Feb. 27-28 in Atlanta, Georgia.

This was the final time the Norse will compete in the A-R-C Championships. Next year, Luther will be the newest member of the Midwest Conference. The A-R-C Championships were first officially recognized by the league in 2023. Since that time, Luther was crowned champions in 2023 and 2025.

Final Team Scores: Nebraska Wesleyan (609), Luther (606), Loras (295), Coe (272), Simpson (143)
Day One Results - Day Two Results - Day Three Results - Day Four Results - Complete A-R-C Championships Results

A-R-C Championships Men's Major Awards:
Men's Diver of the Meet - Colin Halverson - Luther College
Men's Swimmer of the Meet - Kamen Rangelov - Coe College
Men's Rookie of the Year - Owen Leitzen - Loras College
Men's Coaching Staff of the Year - Luther College

Luther Results Day One/All-Conference Performances (Top-3):
200 Medley Relay - Champions - 1:32.87 (2nd all-time) - Drew Chamberlain, Gabe Armstrong, Noah Cochran, Kevin Kretz
800 Freestyle Relay - 2nd - 7:03.82 (6th all-time) - Drew Chamberlain, Owen McCredie, Brock Ohlensehlen, Samuel Schleicher

Luther Results Day Two/A Finals/All-Conference Performances (Top-3):
400 Medley Relay - Champions - 3:22.14 (Meet Record, Pool Record, School Record) - Drew Chamberlain, Gabe Armstrong, Noah Cochran, Kevin Kretz
500 Freestyle - Samuel Schleicher - 4th - 4:47.68; Brock Ohlensehlen - 5th - 4:55.21; Kaden Sanger - 6th - 5:14.77
200 IM - Owen McCredie - 2nd - 1:56.87; Gabe Armstrong - 6th - 2:09.88
50 Freestyle - Kevin Kretz - 4th - 21.27
3-Meter Diving (11 Dives) - Colin Halverson - Champion - 494.80 (NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark); Amir Womack - 2nd - 454.95 (NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark - 4th all-time); Carter Thompson - 3rd - 215.60

Luther Results Day Three/A Finals/All-Conference Performers (Top-3):
200 Medley Relay - 3rd - 1:26.34 - Kevin Kretz, Owen McCredie, Noah Cochran, Ian Allsup
400 IM - Samuel Schleicher - Champion - 4:11.74 (5th all-time); Owen McCredie - 3rd - 4:16.14; Brock Ohlensehlen - 4th - 4:20.92
100 Butterfly - Noah Cochran - Champion - 49.87 (2nd all-time); Kevin Kretz - 3rd - 50.13
200 Freestyle - Drew Chamberlain - 2nd - 1:43.93
100 Breaststroke - Gabe Armstrong - 3rd - 57.01 (Ties School Record); Logan Eastman - 4th - 59.83 (59.69 in prelims - 5th all-time)
100 Backstroke - Drew Chamberlain - Champion - 50.58
1 Meter Divng (11 Dives) - Colin Halverson - Champion - 507.35 (Meet Record, School Record, NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark); Amir Womack - 2nd - 440.30 (5th all-time, NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark); Carter Thompson - 5th - 233.20

Luther Results Day Four/A Finals/All-Conference Performers (Top-3):
400 Freestyle Relay - 2nd - 3:08.64 (5th all-time) - Kevin Kretz, Drew Chamberlain, Owen McCredie, Noah Cochran
1650 Freestyle - Samuel Schleicher - 2nd - 16:32.30 (3rd all-time); Brock Ohlensehlen - 4th - 17:40.20; Kaden Sanger - 6th - 17:59.41
200 backstroke - Drew Chamberlain - Champion - 1:51.86 (2nd all-time)
100 Freestyle - Kevin Kretz - 2nd - 46.20; Noah Cochran - 4th - 47.45 (6th all-time)
200 Breaststroke - Gabe Armstrong - 3rd - 2:09.71 (2nd all-time); Owen McCredie - 4th - 2:11.00 (3rd all-time); Logan Eastman - 5th - 2:15.15
200 Butterfly - Noah Cochran - 4th - 1:58.88 (9th all-time)