Be Better Invite Continues Mission of Honoring Michigan’s Ian Miskelley by Raising Mental Health Awareness

Be Better Invite Continues Mission of Honoring Michigan’s Ian Miskelley by Raising Mental Health Awareness

Just one day after competing in the first College Swimming League meet in Westmont, Ill., the University of Michigan swimming and diving team was back in the water for a meet even more important.

The times didn’t matter, nor did the results.

The Wolverines hosted the 2026 Be Better Invitational at Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor on Friday, Sept. 25.

The meet honors late Michigan swimmer Ian Miskelley, a former Michigan high school state champion from Holland, Michigan, who took his own life amidst a constant battle with mental health issues.

Read Managing Editor Dan D’Addona’s Editorial on Miskelley’s legacy here.

The Be Better Invitational raises awareness and funds for the Be Better non-profit that works specifically with athletes and mental health.

The meet features his college team, Michigan, his hometown team, Hope College, and Calvin University – both NCAA Division III powers.

But the meet is a non-scoring event. It is all about fun.

There are skins events, mystery events where a stroke is determined at the last second at random, and underwater fins racing.

There are some regular events, too, but the focus is the swimming community.

Be Better was started by Miskelley’s parents, Jill and Steve, and is a non-profit resource focusing on mental health among athletes. The organization has helped more then 300 families and 50 athletes so far.

The movement has risen in awareness the past couple of years. Last year, the meet was at Holland Aquatic Center and features the same three teams plus Purdue. There were 11 2024 Olympians who participated in that meet honoring Miskelley.

Meet Results

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