As Disclosure Day Opens, a D-III Connection to Famed Director Steven Spielberg
In celebration of Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film Disclosure Day, opening on June 12, I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the results from Division III swimming from this past year in relation to the legendary director. Let’s not waste any time:
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
“Fortune and glory kid. Fortune and glory.” – Indiana Jones
Is in honor of the two 60-point scorers from this past NCAA season. Greensboro and Indianapolis don’t offer the same scenic vistas as Kandy, Sir Lanka, but they’ve offered plenty in exceptional swimming performances. Kaley McIntyre of NYU recorded one of the most decorated careers in D-III history, complete with three individual division records. More, Chicago’s Cooper Costello is set to return for his senior season. After coming up short by .34 of the 200 butterfly record, you’d have to imagine a 1:42.5 is at the top of his to-do list for 2027. Fortune and glory.
Catch Me If You Can
“You know why the Yankees always win, Frank?” – Frank Abagnale Sr
“Cause they have Mickey Mantle?” – Frank Abagnale Jr
Goes to the new parity at the top of Division III. The film presents the theme of reputation and how the New York Yankees of the past had a psychological edge over any opponent because of their iconography and winning reputation. D-III swimming for years had its own version of the Yankees: Kenyon College. After decades of Kenyon dominance on the men’s side, we’ve seen greater balance with Denison, Emory, NYU, and Johns Hopkins all entering the top two conversation.
In comparison, the women’s side saw the first championship in school history for NYU after their 2025 runner up finish. Over the last four years, there has been a new champion each season. The aforementioned NYU, MIT, Denison, and Kenyon all got their turn at the championship table. Since talent has become more spread out, the championship meet has become more fascinating on a macro level.
Jaws
“That’s a twenty [point]” – Hooper
“Nineteen. Two heats of em” – Quint
Ok, Quint didn’t actually say this. Perhaps I missed the exact line while trying to understand the grizzle in his dialect. Simply, this is just to illuminate how the top end speed of Division III has increased rapidly in recent years. Just three years ago, a 20.25 men’s 50 freestyle was a safe placement in the middle of the B final. Presently, that time would land the swimmer 25th, well outside a night swim. Traditionally, speed has trickled down based on the level, but D-III has certainly hit the accelerator button on its top speed.
Overall, D-III swimming is reaching new heights of competition and speed despite the uncertainty surrounding college swimming as a whole. More exceptional Division III swims, combined with another opportunity for a Spielberg picture, is all for the better.