Genine Collins ’27, a first year from Stewartsville, NJ, showed out at the NCAA Division III Swimming Championships last week. The Garnet women’s team finished in ninth place out of 40 teams, their highest team placement in program history. Collins’s success played a key part in this top-ten finish.
On day one of the meet (March 20), Collins finished in eighth place in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 23.27 seconds, earning All-America First Team honors in her national championship debut.
On day two (March 21), Collins competed in the 200-meter freestyle relay and helped her team bring home bronze with a school- and conference-record-breaking time of 1:32.99. The quartet is now the highest-placing women’s relay in Centennial Conference history, surpassing Ursinus College’s eighth-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle relay in 2019. Collins and her teammates earned All-America First Team distinctions for their success.
Collins continued her success of the day in the 400-meter medley relay. She assisted her team to ninth place with a time of 3:45.75, setting a new program and conference record. She earned All-American Second Team accolades for this event.
On day four (March 23), Collins competed in the 400-meter freestyle relay, helping her team to seventh place with a time of 3:25.89. She and her teammates earned All-America First Team honors.
Collins racked up her fifth and final All-American distinction of the week in the 100-meter freestyle, making her the most decorated Swarthmore swimming athlete. The first year finished in tenth place with a time of 51.10 seconds to earn Second Team.
Sophia Vesely: Can you tell us about the team’s experience at the NCAA Division III Championships? How did it feel to place ninth overall?
Genine Collins: Placing in the top ten was not a goal we came into the NCAA championships with. It was the momentum that built from every race, final, All-American, and teammate on the podium that revealed our potential. We just carried that throughout the meet, and it was such a great feeling to see our hard work pay off in the end.
SV: How did it feel to earn the bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle relay?
GC: I was so excited to place third! What I remember most about the race was Ainsley Jane [Tambling ’26] beaming from the time Elle [Anthony ’26] touched the wall until the time we walked off the podium with the trophy. Her excitement was so genuine, and I was so proud of all of the work we all had put in.
SV: How did it feel to earn five separate All-American distinctions?
GC: It is so surreal. I don’t think it has really sunk in yet. I’m just so thankful to have had the training and support to perform so well.
SV: What is your favorite memory of the season?
GC: I loved when Maddie [Adams-Miller ’26] would come with the camera behind the block. Dancing around and goofing off a bit is a great way to take yourself out of the pressure before a race.
SV: What are some of your personal goals for next season?
GC: I just hope to become a better teammate. I am working on compartmentalizing each race regardless of the outcome, so I can give my best to the team and my next event.
SV: Do you have any pre- or post-meet rituals?
GC: I don’t have any pre-meet rituals, besides being extremely nervous. After the last race, coaches always tell swimmers to cool down, but my favorite post-meet ritual is to skip that and pretend that the next time I get in the pool for practice won’t hurt worse than if I had cooled down after the meet.
SV: Why did you choose Swarthmore, and what are you studying?
GC: I chose Swarthmore partly for the swim team dynamic and training style, but mainly for its intimate and collaborative community. It’s amazing to be surrounded by people who are so passionate about bettering themselves and learning more about their interests. I plan to study biochemistry.
SV: What is your favorite Dining Center bar?
GC: I am gluten free, so I spend all of my time in the Free Zone, but I love trying all of the gluten free desserts!
