MCC Swimming Heads to NJCAA Nationals, Continues Building Mississippi’s Future in the Pool

Three MCC Eagles swimmers pose poolside with their coach, all standing with arms crossed in front of the indoor pool lanes.

March 2, 2026

MERIDIAN, Miss. — In just its third year of existence, the Meridian Community College swimming & diving program continues to make waves.

Head Coach Wade Heggie will lead three Eagles to the 2026 NJCAA Swimming & Diving National Championships March 4–7 at the Anne Wilder Aquatic Center on the campus of Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida. The championship will feature approximately 200 student-athletes and coaches from across the country.

The national appearance marks the third straight season MCC has competed at the NJCAA Championships. In only three years under Heggie's leadership, the program has not only qualified for nationals but has also elevated the profile of junior college swimming across the state of Mississippi.

"This group has worked incredibly hard to get here," Heggie said. "We're proud to represent Meridian, our college, and the state of Mississippi on the national stage. It's exciting to see how far this program has come in a short amount of time."

National Qualifiers

Meridian will compete in 12 individual events at nationals.

Sydney Cooper (Men)

50 Breaststroke
50 Freestyle
50 Butterfly
100 Freestyle

Matthew Kirkland (Men)

200 Individual Medley
50 Backstroke
100 Backstroke
200 Breaststroke

Hallie McDonald (Women)

50 Freestyle
200 Freestyle
50 Butterfly
100 Freestyle

All three swimmers have consistently posted national qualifying times throughout the season, building on a year that included strong meet performances, record-setting swims, and continued growth in competition against four-year programs.

Impact Beyond the Pool

The 2025-26 season has been historic for MCC swimming in more ways than one. Both the men's and women's teams earned the highest GPA in the NJCAA as recognized by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), highlighting the program's commitment to excellence in the classroom as well as in competition.

This year also marked the first time the Eagles hosted meets on campus, further solidifying MCC's growing footprint in Mississippi swimming.

In just three seasons, MCC has become a catalyst for the sport in the region, providing opportunities for student-athletes to compete at a high level while raising the standard for junior college swimming statewide.

The 2026 NJCAA Swimming & Diving National Championships will run March 4–7. Events will be available for streaming (paid access) at:
https://www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index

Follow MCC Athletics on X (@mcceaglessports), Instagram (@mcceaglesathletics_), and Facebook (Meridian Community College Athletics) for updates, results, photos, and more as the Eagles compete on the national stage.