BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Queens University of Charlotte men's and women's swim teams repeated as the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Champions, for the third straight year on Saturday, March 11, 2017. The men's team held the top seed from the first day of the meet, concluding with 563.5 points while the women's team took the lead from Drury on day two of the competition. The women finished with 467 points.

Marius Kusch claimed the NCAA Men's Swimmer of the Meet Award, as voted on by coaches present at the championship site. Head Coach Jeff Dugdale would claim the Men's Coach of the Year Award for leading Queens to their third national championship in a row.

"Wow, what a year," said Head Coach Dugdale. "Our theme was GRIT and the team bought it. They represented Queens well. Words cannot express the emotions I am feeling. Congratulations to our basketball, and track and field programs on an excellent weekend as well."

On the men's side, Drury found 350 points for silver as Nova Southeastern finished the day in third place with 313 points. 

Drury's women took second with 350 points while Wingate followed as the bronze medalist with 346 points.

Hannah Peiffer ended the night with a new national record in the 200 yard backstroke. She would take a two second lead into the wall with a time of 1:54.48 to break former Queens' swimmer Caroline Arakelian's record from 2014.

Continuing their dominate relay performance, Kusch, Dion Dreesens, Ben Mayes, and Nicholas Arakelian, respectively, took a new national time as they reached the wall in the 400 yard freestyle relay. The four broke the national record with a 2:53.00.

With the fastest time in the 100 yard freestyle, Kusch grabbed a 43.03, rounding out his week with another national title. Dreesens added a fourth-place finish to the Royals point total with a time of 43.38 in the event.

Paul Pijulet went 1:42.08 in the 200 yard backstroke for the national crown. He took a second lead into the wall.

The women's 400 freestyle relay team of Josefina Lorda-Taylor, Kyrie Dobson, Alexandra Marshall, and McKenzie Stevens, respectively, touched the wall with a 3:21.30. The team secured a bronze medal for the event.

Dobson secured seventh in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 50.91 followed by Marshall who placed eighth (50.92).

Dasha Talanova tallied a seventh-place touch in the 200 yard breaststroke, clocking a 2:15.99. Nicholas Arakelian took the sixth fastest time on the men's side to secure a 1:56.49 in the event.

The meet marks the end of the season for the Royals.