NEW LONDON, CT (February 28, 2026) – Tufts University junior
Jay Wilkinson won the one-meter diving title and qualified nationally with an outstanding performance at the NCAA Region 3 Championships on Saturday afternoon at Connecticut College.
Wilkinson was first out of 13 competitors in the one-meter event today with a final score of 479.55 to win the first Regional title of his career. With the victory, he earns an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Swimming & Diving Championships coming up March 18-21 in Indianapolis.
Tufts junior
Elias Brandt finished seventh in the one-meter competition today with a 400.80 score. Based on his sixth-place score in three-meter diving on Friday, Brandt is in position to potentially qualify as an NCAA alternate for the region.
Wilkson won today's competition in dramatic fashion. He was second behind Williams College's Calder Biondi through nine dives. Wilkinson then earned a huge 57.36 score with an Inward 2 1/2 Somersault Tuck to take over the lead through 10 dives. On his final attempt of the day, Wilkinson scored 48.10 on a Forward 1 1/2 Somersault 2 Twist Free. Biondi was unable to surpass Wilkinson on this final dive, giving the Jumbo the victory.
This marks Tufts' first NCAA Regional diving title on either board since Matt Rohrer was the three-meter winner in 2016. Wilkinson also wins Tufts' first one-meter Regional championship since Johann Schmidt took the 2014 title in the event. Wilkinson had been the one-meter Regional runner-up in 2024 before missing last year's meet due to an injury.
Brandt did an Inward 1 1/2 Somersault Pike for his 10th dive today, which scored 49.20 and helped him move up in the standings. His seventh-place finish in one-meter today is his best for the event in three NCAA Regional appearances.
--JUMBOS--
