Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's participation in the 2025 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships commenced on Wednesday at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Blake Wallen, a sophomore from Savage, Minnesota, representing the Blugolds, achieved his first All-America honor.

Wallen secured 16th place in the men's three-meter diving competition with a score of 425.70, earning second team All-America distinction. His performance in the preliminaries allowed him to qualify for the consolation finals, where all eight divers received second team All-America honors by finishing between ninth and 16th place. This achievement marks Wallen's first time as an All-American during his second appearance at the NCAA Championships. Last season, he placed 22nd on the three-meter board.

In addition to Wallen's performance, junior Molly Hosack from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, participated in her second career trip to nationals. She tied for 25th place in the women's 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:00.60, which was her second-best time of the season.

The NCAA Championships will continue on Thursday, March 20. Hosack will be competing in the women's 200-yard freestyle event as the sole representative for UW-Eau Claire. The preliminaries are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

Further updates on the Blugolds can be followed throughout the season on their website Blugolds.com or through their app Blugold Sports and social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.