When Nick Hensel started his freshman season on the Denison swimming and diving team, he did not expect to break three school records, let alone help secure the title as 2025 NCAA Division III champions.
From March 19–22, the NCAA held the DIII Swimming and Diving Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Denison Big Red clinched their first national title since 2019, winning by the second-largest margin in NCAA DIII history. Prior to this, the closest the team had come was sixth place in 2024 and eighth in 2023.
“It wasn’t about the outcome, but the legacy that you leave behind,” Hensel said. “I wanted to help contribute to the legacy of all the seniors who were graduating this year.”
Heading into the meet, Denison was the favorite.
“We knew we were going to win because we had worked harder than any other program in the country,” Hensel said. “We were just waiting, itching to prove it.”
In attendance at the championship meet was Hensel’s family, cheering him on from the bleachers each day. Both his parents and his twin sister, Annika Hensel—also a DIII swimmer at Macalester College—made the trip to Greensboro to support him.
“Having Annika there was my favorite part,” Nick said. “We barely see each other after years of seeing each other every single day. This was the first time we were apart for so long.”
Annika and Nick grew up swimming together, maintaining a healthy rivalry on both club and school teams. With such a close bond, they were able to witness each other grow and flourish in their own lanes.
“It was such a big moment for him,” Annika said. “I got goosebumps.”
Family was not the only support in the stands. Denison’s cheering section was the largest in the stadium, packed with teammates who weren’t competing—many of whom had chosen to give up their spring break just to support the team.
“This is just the dynamic of Denison’s team: focused and cooperative,” Nick Hensel said. “Once I bought into the team, it felt like the possibilities were endless.”
But the road to victory had been a long one. Hensel has been swimming competitively since he was six years old. A ‘24 alum, he was a four-year varsity swimmer, senior captain and consistent point scorer for the Mavericks.
“Nick was a big mentor for the younger guys on the team, both inside and outside of the pool,” junior captain Joe Dalicandro said. “He’s one of those guys who will put in the hard work.”
After graduating, Hensel chose to continue his career at Denison University for its strong academics, top-ranked swim program and close-knit campus culture.
“I chose Denison because I wanted to be able to contribute as a freshman,” Hensel said. “All the upperclassmen were very supportive; our team is all about lifting each other up out of love rather than shame.”
Behind the scenes of the Big Reds’ victory were months of grueling training and early mornings. Practices began at 5:45 a.m., with Wednesdays as the only day off. Hensel worked hard to balance sleep, school, and a social life around this schedule.
He credits his high school for laying the groundwork.
“St. John’s definitely prepared me well,” Hensel said. “The structure and discipline I learned there helped make the transition manageable. Honestly, swimming in college has made it easier to stay on top of everything.”
“Nick understood training and the discipline it took to get where he is,” St. John’s assistant coach Ben Pressley said. “This made it very easy to coach him because he did the hard part himself.”
For Hensel, he “could not have asked for a better season.” By the end of the championships, he had broken three records: the 50 freestyle, the 400 freestyle relay, and the 100 freestyle—though the latter was broken shortly after by one of his teammates.
“The one thing I will always remember about Nick is that he loved to compete,” Pressley said. “If we could’ve put him in 15 events, he would’ve done his absolute best in every single one of them.”
Despite the season’s victory, Hensel is not taking the win as a sign to slow down. Instead, he sees it as fuel to work even harder next year. As the new team to beat, Denison knows other schools will be aiming for them.
“We have a target on our back now, but that’s just motivation to do our best,” Hensel said.
