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Men's Swimming and Diving 12/13/2025 3:00:00 PM Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

Wildcats Compete in 2025 CSCAA Open Water Nationals

SARASOTA, FL. -- The six members of the NMU swim team who traveled to Florida to compete in the 2025 Open Water National Championship have competed.

The event had phenomenal weather for the race, with Sarasota experiencing temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and winds of around five mph.

The trio of Timothee Garin, Zachary Billotte, and Alessandro Rosatelli all swam in the first Open Water Nationals of their career, competing for the men in the 8:30 a.m. session. Garin led the way, finishing 16th overall and 6th among Division II swimmers with his time of 55:27.0 in the 5k race.

Billotte swam a time of 58:29.6 to finish 48th overall and 12th among DII swimmers, while Rosatelli swam a 1:02:52.0 to finish 77th overall and 20th among DII swimmers. The field consisted of 89 competitors, with 21 swimmers from Division II, including Mevlut Efe Guler of Lynn University, who finished first in a time of 52:54.1.

Men's swimmers at 2025 Open Water Nationals

Men's swimmers at 2025 Open Water Nationals

On the women's side, Caitlin Aarseth swam in her second open water nationals, and Ellie Kilgard competed in her first. Aarseth finished 70th overall and 14th among Division II swimmers with her time of 1:04:05.9. Kilgard competed, but her time did not show up in the live stats. Her finish will be updated when made available. Anika Wright did not compete.

The women saw 96 swimmers, with 19 from Division II. Veteran and last year's second-place finisher in this championship, Ella Dyson of Rice University, finished first with her time of 56:05.7. Freshman at Tampa, Katharina Hibbeln, was the first finisher among DII swimmers and 4th overall.

Results from today can be found here.

The 'Cats are next in the pool after the turn of the calendar, with the 'Cats traveling to UW-Stevens Point for a dual meet with the Pointers on January 17, 2026.

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Players Mentioned

Caitlin Aarseth: 5' 5"; Senior

Ellie Kilgard: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Anika Wright: 5' 8"; Junior

Zachary Billotte: Sophomore

Alessandro Rosatelli: 5' 11"; Junior

Timothee Garin: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Caitlin Aarseth
: 5' 5"; Senior

Ellie Kilgard
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Anika Wright
: 5' 8"; Junior

Zachary Billotte
: Sophomore

Alessandro Rosatelli
: 5' 11"; Junior

Timothee Garin
: Freshman