FORT PIERCE, FL (February 19, 2026) —The men’s team has won 51 consecutive swimming and diving championships, and the women’s team has won 47 national swimming and diving championships, representing the longest championship streaks in collegiate sports history. The dominance of the Indian River State College Swimming and Diving Team is comparable to the legacies of the Boston Celtics, New York Yankees, and the UCLA Bruins.
This March, Indian River State College (The River) will again host the NJCAA Swimming National Championships, bringing the nation’s top junior college swimmers and divers to the Treasure Coast for four days of competition from Wednesday, March 4, through Saturday, March 7. The event marks a continuation of a decades-long tradition, with The River hosting the championships every other year for more than 24 years.
“Hosting the nationals is a pretty nice little tradition, because we have managed to do it every other year for well over 24 years,” said Sion Brinn, Head Swimming Coach at Indian River State College and former Olympic competitor. “It’s a good home competition. It’s nice for the kids to stay in their own environment, and we get probably a little bit more friends, family, spectators that come down to cheer for them.”
Brinn’s journey with Indian River State College exemplifies the program’s legacy. A former walk-on athlete at The River, he went on to compete at the Olympic level before returning home to coach. Now in his 13th year as head coach, he is preparing the team for their 52nd consecutive national championship attempt.
“At the time, as a student-athlete, you didn’t really realize the legacy you’ve already been a part of, because we were only going for 18th and 19th in my two years that were here,” Brinn reflected. “And to see that we’re going for number 52, 30-something years later is pretty impressive, but also pretty cool to be a part of the program for 13 years as a coach and two years as an athlete.”
Championship Schedule and Community Celebration
The championships will feature preliminary competition beginning at 9:30 a.m. each day, with finals starting at 5:30 p.m. A short diving session will follow preliminaries, lasting about an hour between 11:00 a.m. and noon.
Student-Athlete Success Beyond the Pool
Indian River State College’s athletic department has maintained a strong emphasis on academic achievement alongside athletic excellence. This past fall, the athletics department achieved record-breaking academic performance with a 3.4 overall GPA. Three teams, including the women’s swimming and diving team, finished with a 3.51 GPA or higher.
“When I first got here, our GPAs ranged in the 2.7, 2.8 range,” said Stephanie Skidmore, Assistant Director of Athletics at The River. “And now about 15 years later, we’re up in the 3.5 range. So, I think setting the expectations and just kids want to perform. They’re athletes. They’re competitors. That’s what they want here. So, we just set the right expectations.”
The swimming and diving team trains nine times per week, with morning and afternoon practice sessions, as they prepare for the national championships.
“We have a strong team, but I take nothing for chance,” Brinn said. “So, we’re just trying to make sure we get the most of what we can get out of every athlete in every event that they’re potentially training to swim in.”
Historic Legacy and Community Impact
The River’s swimming and diving program holds a distinction that extends beyond the NJCAA level. According to Skidmore, the team’s championship streak represents the longest in all of collegiate athletics, not just junior college competition.
“Our swim team, it’s not just in the NJCAA that we hold this record,” she said. “I believe it’s all records if I am correct, where nobody has won this many. So, it’s fun to get people involved and to see the hard work that these kids are doing and these coaches are doing.”
The athletic department also emphasizes community service, with student-athletes participating in events such as Night to Shine, volunteering with the Humane Society and Treasure Coast Food Bank, and supporting Special Olympics swim meets.
“For the community, it’s a chance to see what we’ve built over the years and come and support what hopefully will be a continuation of traditions that have been coming in the past and continue for years to come,” Brinn said.
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About Indian River State College: Indian River State College, serving Florida’s Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, offers high-quality, affordable education to over 24,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The College provides more than 130 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and technical certificates. To learn more, visit irsc.edu.
