University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Announces 2026-27 Team Captains
9/18/2026 12:56:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – The University of Minnesota swimming and diving programs have officially announced their team captains for the 2026-27 season, naming Ryan Slonac, Ian Steffen, and John Watson to lead the men's program and Ava Goodno, Katie McCarthy, and Elna Widerstrom to lead the women's program.
A Muskego, Wisconsin native, Ryan Slonac returns for a second year as team captain for the Gophers, serving as a captain throughout his junior campaign in 2025-26. Slonac currently ranks third in school history in the 200 back (1:42.27) and seventh in the 200 IM (1:44.99). Slonac collected a top 20 finish in the 200 back at the 2026 Big Ten Championships and closed the season with CSCAA Individual Scholar All-American honors, Academic All-Big Ten honors, and the Outstanding Student Athlete team award.
A rising senior from Marion, Iowa, Ian Steffen returns to his role as team captain as well in 2026-27, as he was also named team captain as a junior last season. Steffen currently ranks second in program history in the 200 back (1:41.43), eighth in the 100 back (47.02), and 11th in the 100 fly (46.86). Steffen also tallied a top 20 finish in the 200 back at the 2026 Big Ten Championships and was named a 2026 Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
A native of Omaha, Nebraska, John Watson earns the team captain title after a successful first season with the Gophers. The Mizzou transfer etched himself in the record books, ranking sixth in program history in the 200 breast (1:54.20), seventh in the 400 IM (3:45.23), and ninth in the 200 IM (1:45.56). Watson collected CSCAA Individual Scholar All-American honors and the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award along with a trio of top 20 finishes at the 2026 Big Ten Championships.
A senior from Muskego, Wisconsin, Ava Goodno will be a first time team captain in 2026-27. Goodno currently ranks tied for eighth in program history in the 100 breast (1:00.84). Goodno was a member of the team's 200 medley relay at the 2026 NCAA Championships, and closed the season with CSCAA Individual Scholar All-American honors, Academic All-Big Ten honors, and the Iron Fish team award.
An Edina, Minnesota native, Katie McCarthy returns as team captain after serving on the leadership group in 2025-26. McCarthy ranks fourth in program history in the 400 IM (4:06.49), seventh in the 1650 free (16:03.41) and 1000 free (9:40.68), eighth in the 500 free (4:39.71), and ninth in the 200 fly (1:58.44) and 200 IM (1:58.91). McCarthy collected an All-American Honorable Mention at last year's NCAA Championships with an 11th place finish in the 1650 free, while also collecting CSC Academic All-District honors, Academic All-Big Ten honors, and the Swimmer of the Year team award.
Fresh off her first career Big Ten title, Lund, Sweden native Elna Widerstrom is named team captain after an accolade filled 2025-26 season. Widerstrom ranks sixth in team history on the 1-meter springboard (336.95) and seventh on the 3-meter springboard (374.35), and is the reigning 1-meter Big Ten Champion. Along with being named the 2026 Big Ten Diver of the Year, Widerstrom collected a pair of All-American honors on both springboard events at the NCAA Championships and earned CSCAA Individual Scholar All-American honors, CSC Academic All-District honors, Academic All-Big Ten honors, and the Diver of the Year team award.
