The Ashland University swim and dive team has a new face to lead the way this season. Former Eagles swimmer and assistant coach Sydney Laughlin was named head coach for the 2025-26 season.
“Since she joined us as an assistant coach a year ago, I’ve been impressed by Sydney’s drive and intensity,” said AU Director of Athletics Al King.
Prior to Laughlin’s coaching career, she was a student-athlete in Ashland’s program for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, as well as a part of Grove City College’s swim program. Then she coached as an assistant at the University of the Cumberlands and Kenyon College before coming back to Ashland University. But even before her time at the collegiate level, she got experience coaching at a younger age. “When I swam in high school, I was able to coach the elementary-aged groups for our summer swim team,” Laughlin told The Collegian.
For Laughlin, the potential for the program to get even better, both in the pool and out in the community, is what excites her the most. “One of Ashland University’s core values that I love to talk about is, ‘Accent on the Individual’,” Laughlin said, “This core value means to pledge the best individual and collective efforts to challenge and encourage each member of the university within a supportive community.” Laughlin looks forward to recruiting student-athletes looking to become better students, athletes, and people here at Ashland University.
The swim and dive program has been steadily improving over the last few years, including last season, where Eagle swimming and diving finished in second place (men) and third place (women) at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference/Mountain East Championships. Diver Riley Hunt earned second-team NCAA Division II All-American status in women’s 3-meter diving, becoming the first AU woman to score team points at nationals in nine years.
“Riley Hunt and Joey Lencyzk are two excellent divers to keep an eye out for, as I can see them making it all the way to nationals again this season,” Laughlin noted, “I am eager to see freshmen Lucas Leibrand and Ryan McEvilly compete this season on our men’s side, and on our women’s side, junior Hannah Yemec and sophomore Yasmim Tomita.”
The 2025-26 Ashland University swimming and diving season will begin on Oct. 10-11 at the Oberlin Early Invite. For more information, you can visit goashlandeagles.com.
