Young Releases 2025-26 Swimming Schedule
Ben Young walks through the 2025-26 Carson-Newman Swimming Schedule with only three home meets for the Eagles
VIDEO: Ben Young Schedule Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head swimming coach Ben Young unveiled the 2025-26 swim schedule in an interview this morning.
The Eagles open the season with the 10th anniversary of the Blue vs. Orange World Championships, an intense intrasquad meet in which the Orange Team claimed victory last season, 247-208. The two-day event begins Friday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. inside the Maddox Student Activities Center in Jefferson City, Tenn., and concludes Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m.
"Blue vs. Orange always gets chippy and exciting," said head coach Ben Young. "At the end of the day, it's our first opportunity to get up and race in that meet environment. The group does a really good job of making this a very competitive atmosphere like we will see time and time again throughout this season."
The Eagles then hit the road for the first time this year with a matchup against Division III Milligan on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m. at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse Swimming Pool in Elizabethton, Tenn. Carson-Newman defeated the Buffaloes last season at home and looks to replicate that success on the road.
"Every single year they have gotten bigger and better, faster and stronger," said Young. "It's an opportunity to go up there to their home pool. It's short-course meters, and we're used to starting out our season at E&H… so we're replacing one atmosphere with another. It's a great opportunity to go on the road and get a dress rehearsal for what's to come."
October opens with a quad meet against UIndy, Kenyon, and Nova Southeastern at the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday, Oct. 4, with start times TBA.
"We went up there a couple years ago and it was a great atmosphere, great pool, and great environment to be a part of," Young said. "UIndy is a national powerhouse at the Division II level, as is Nova Southeastern, whose women's team were national champions last year. To have a meet like this early on in the season is going to be fun and challenging."
South Atlantic Conference action kicks off when C-N travels to Harrell Pool in North Carolina for a matchup with Mars Hill — the first of two meetings with the Mountain Lions in 2025. Last season, the Eagles topped Mars Hill twice, first at home (245-161) and later on the road (274-124). The meet is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The Eagles remain on the road in November, beginning with the two-day Emory Invitational at the Madeleine Jude Brown Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Ga., running Friday, Nov. 8 (6 p.m.) through Saturday, Nov. 9 (11 a.m.).
"Get ready," said Young. "It is a big wake-up call like it is every year, and because of the size of our incoming class we've done a really good job of spreading what our newcomers look like. Emory is an incredible program and always puts on an insanely fast meet for them and for us."
At midseason, Carson-Newman heads to Columbia, S.C., for the Gamecock Invitational at the Carolina Natatorium. The event runs Wednesday, Nov. 19, through Friday, Nov. 21, with times TBA.
The Eagles close out the semester with a two-day road test against Wingate in Wingate, N.C., beginning Friday, Dec. 13 (6 p.m.) and concluding Saturday, Dec. 14 (11 a.m.). Last season, the C-N women's team upset the No. 17 Bulldogs, 162-152, despite falling short overall.
"I'm really excited that the meet got put on the schedule and will now be home and away every year," said Young. "It's a good way to end finals and close out the first semester. I love Kevin and Ben over at Wingate and they always bring a high level of competition and energy to the pool deck. It's Carson-Newman and Wingate, and you know there is always something there that's a bit deeper."
After nearly a month off, the Eagles resume action with a trip to Catawba on Friday, Jan. 9, at 11 a.m. inside Johnson Pool in Catawba, N.C.
For the first time since the Blue vs. Orange meet, C-N will compete at home, hosting Mars Hill on Saturday, Jan. 10, in the Maddox Student Activities Center. Start times are TBA.
The Eagles will then celebrate Senior Night against Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, Jan. 17, in Jefferson City. Times are TBA.
"Senior Night for us is always fun, and you get to recap what should be an incredible journey throughout your four years at Carson-Newman," Young stated. "This is my fourth season as head coach, so this will be the crew that essentially started it all. It's a small class, and it is a bittersweet moment."
C-N concludes the regular season with the South Atlantic Conference Championships in Kingsport, Tenn., running Wednesday, Feb. 4, through Saturday, Feb. 7.
"It's a massive venue change going from conference meets always being in North Carolina," said Young. "The fact that they're coming to Kingsport is fantastic… it's almost like a home-field advantage. I'm excited to be up there and be close to campus so that hopefully draws in more support."
The NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships are scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, through Saturday, March 14, in Evansville, Ind., at the Southern Indiana Aquatics Center.
To stay up to date with Carson-Newman swimming, follow @CN_Eagles on X and Instagram or "Carson-Newman Athletics" on Facebook. Full coverage is also available at cneagles.com.
