GRANVILLE, Ohio – The College of Wooster swimming and diving team was the beneficiary of two early takeoff calls, as those awarded the Fighting Scots all-conference certificates for the men's and women's 800 freestyle relay on night one of the North Coast Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at Denison University's Trumbull Aquatic Center.

Sophomore Josh Pearson, senior Doak Schultz, first-year Isaac Shaker, and first-year Ryan Gross opened Div. III's preeminent conference meet with a 6:56.68 in the 800 freestyle relay, which was originally fourth. Wooster's unit moved up to third after Wabash College was sent off with the first disqualification of the night, and in doing so, the Scots claimed the final all-conference spot.

In the women's race, first-year Ollie Bream, senior Mia Chen, senior Madison Whitman, and sophomore Emma Connors posted a 7:51.68, which like the men, was the fourth-best time posted on the scoreboard. Denison's winning time was wiped out due to an early takeoff, and that vaulted Wooster up to the final All-NCAC position. In fact, a third of the NCAC teams in the women's 800 freestyle did not score due to early takeoffs.

Notable, Bream's 1:52.95 as the leadoff leg is the second-fastest 200 freestyle time in program history, while Pearson's collegiate-best 1:42.87 rates as Wooster's fifth fastest men's 200 freestyle time.

Men's three-meter diving was Wednesday's only other event, but Wooster did not have any entrants.

Kenyon College leads the nine NCAC women's programs with 70 points, while DePauw University is second with 62, and Wooster is third at 60. Kenyon has opened up a 163-149 lead over Denison on the men's side. Wabash recovered from its relay mishap with 75 points in diving and sits in third-place, 15 points ahead of fourth-place Wooster.

Thursday's prelims start at 9:30 a.m. with finals slated for 6 p.m. The NCAC is not permitting spectators at this year's championships.