EWING, N.J. - The TCNJ men's swimming and diving team is set to bring a record six student-athletes to compete at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis next month.
 
Graduate student Andrew Thompson joins juniors Conrad Hoody, Dixon Kahler, and Matt Watts; sophomore James McChesney; and freshman Lukas Blach as swimmers who qualified for nationals and will represent the Lions on the biggest stage at the IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI from March 16-19.
 
Additionally, freshman diver Ethan Weiss is competing at regionals this weekend and will look to join TCNJ's contingent in Indianapolis.
 
The Lions are in the midst of perhaps their best season in program history, highlighted by last week's dominating performance at the Metropolitan Conference championships, where they cruised to their first team title since 2015. Thanks to a bevy of remarkable individual and relay efforts at METs and earlier in the year, head coach David Dow and company are ready to contend for a historic team finish at the NCAA meet.
 
McChesney was the star of the Metropolitan meet, swimming to rookie of the meet and co-swimmer of the meet laurels and breaking program records in the 50 free and 100 free. The super sophomore is a strong contender for multiple All-American accolades at nationals, ranking second in Division III in the 100 free (43.81), seventh in the 50 free (20.06), and 13^th in the 200 free (1:38.63).
 
Thompson has made the most of his graduate season, qualifying for nationals in three different events – the 200 free (20^th; 1:38.98), 200 IM (26^th; 1:50.16), and 100 fly (49.00). The 2021 NJAC Swimmer of the Year was runner-up in the 100 fly and 200 IM at METs.
 
Blach has enjoyed a remarkable rookie campaign, winning gold in the 1650 free and claiming bronze in both the 50 free and 200 free at METs. His 1650 free time (15:55.09) was a B-cut and enough to earn a spot in the NCAA championship meet, where he's seeded 24^th overall. His teammate, Hoody, ranks 27^th at 16:15.77 and will also compete in the 1650 free.
 
The Lions will also compete in four relay events at nationals. Kahler, McChesney, Thompson, and Matt Watts will swim the 200 and 400 free relays for TCNJ, which is seeded 11^th in the 400 free relay and 19^th in the 200 free relay.
 
Blach, Hoody, McChesney, and Thompson are seeded 13^th in the 800 free relay. TCNJ is also seeded 18^th in the 200 medley relay.