TOWSON, Md. - The Catholic men's swimming and diving team has been picked first in the Landmark Conference Championship Poll, it was announced today. The Cardinals received 76 points in the poll, including five first-place votes.
Drew and Scranton took second and third in the poll, with Drew receiving 72 points and Scranton close behind with 71. The Rangers finished third at the 2025 championship and will return multiple medalists to compete for the title, while Scranton placed second and brings back an experienced line up for this year's competition.
After capturing their ninth straight conference title in 2025, Catholic once again looks to defend the crown, this time with Chris Paynter at the helm. Last season, they defeated their conference opponents by more than 100 points, recording 874.5 points at the meet.
Charles Connolly III returns as the reigning Landmark Diver of the Year and will compete in the 1-Meter and 3-Meter diving events. At the 2025 Championship, Connolly claimed first place in the 3-meter diving event with 326.65 points and followed with a win in the 1-meter event with 337.90 points.
Sean Kelty returns as a key contributor in distance events. Kelty was a four-time medalist at the 2025 championship, earning two gold and two silver medals. He secured a spot in the Landmark record books with a first-place finish in the 1650 Freestyle, clocking a time of 16:05.36. Kelty also claimed first in the 400 IM and second in both the 200 IM and the 800 Freestyle Relay alongside
John Holler,
Shawn Mashburn and
Daniel Green.
Teddy Tsakumis has been a consistent leader in the pool for Catholic, recording multiple podium finishes throughout the 2025-26 season. At last year's championship, Tsakumis earned three medals, placing first in the 100 and 200 Backstroke, and taking silver in the 400 Medley Relay with Holler,
Jackson Hicks, and
Jack Thompson.
The 2026 Landmark Championships will begin on Thursday, February 12 at the Mangione Aquatic Center in Baltimore, Md., with events concluding on Sunday, February 15.
