ELKHART, Ind. — In his first season leading the program, Thomas University's head swimming coach Wyatt Dalton will send three athletes to the national stage as Anna Van DeKeere, Jofre Mataro and Emil Schildhauer have officially qualified for the 69th Annual NAIA Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving National Championship, set for March 4–7, 2026, at the Elkhart Aquatics Center in Elkhart, Ind.
Van DeKeere earned her spot at the Small College Cup in Columbus, Ga., securing an automatic qualifying time in the mile. She also posted provisional cuts in the 400 IM and 500 freestyle, giving her the opportunity to compete in all three events at Nationals.
Mataro qualified in both the 100 and 200 backstroke and added a provisional "B" standard in the 50 freestyle, allowing him to race three events at the championship meet.
Schildhauer locked in his national berths in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and also earned a qualification in the 200 Individual Medley (IM), rounding out a strong contingent of Night Hawks headed to Indiana.
In his first year at the helm, the head coach said the milestone is both meaningful and motivating.
"I am proud but not fully satisfied," the coach said. "Having three swimmers qualify for Nationals in my first season is a great accomplishment, but for me, it's not about the numbers; it's about the process. It tells me we're building a culture where hard work, discipline and attention to detail are paying off. My focus is keeping those athletes in the right mindset, helping them perform at their absolute best on the biggest stage, and ensuring the rest of the team sees what's possible when you commit fully. Achievements like this are milestones, not endpoints. They're signals that we're on the right path, but there's always more work to do."
With Nationals just around the corner, preparation will focus on precision and race‑readiness.
"Preparation for Nationals isn't about doing more; it's about doing the right things consistently," he said. "We'll focus on sharpening technique, fine‑tuning race strategy and making sure our athletes are physically fresh and mentally focused. It's about controlling what we can — race execution, mindset and recovery — so when they step off the blocks, they're ready to perform."
As the Night Hawks gear up for competition at one of the biggest stages in the NAIA, excitement continues to build.
"We're excited to compete at the highest level and see all the hard work come together," he said. "It's about testing ourselves, executing our races with confidence and representing our program with pride. Beyond individual results, we're excited to see our team culture, discipline, preparation and focus on full display."
The 69th Annual NAIA Swimming & Diving National Championship will run March 4–7 at the Elkhart Aquatics Center.
Broadcast Information
The championship will air in two places – on Urban Edge Network (https://urbanedgenetwork.net/?school=naia-championships) and on NAIA Network (www.naianetwork.com) – with information on apps and links. The Swimming and Diving broadcasts are indicated by the blue Swimming & Diving thumbnail graphic.
