Women’s swimmer Madeleine Dunn, A26, named NESCAC Swimmer of the Year after stellar senior season
Tufts University's Madeleine Dunn, A26, swims in a meet against Bates College on Jan. 17, 2026. Photo: Michael Last for Tufts Athletics
Consistency. It’s the first thing that comes to mind for Adam Hoyt, women’s swimming and diving coach, when asked what gave Madeleine Dunn, A26, an edge over her competition this season.
“It’s hard for me to think of too many athletes that have been as consistent as Madeleine,” Hoyt said. “Whether she’s got a cold, an upcoming exam, or family obligations, she’s always shown an amazing ability to manage all of those things.”
Dunn, who is finishing her final of four seasons with the Jumbos, proved the value in “holding herself to an extremely high standard,” Hoyt said, when she was named the 2026 NESCAC Swimmer of the Year following the NESCAC championships at Wesleyan University in February.
At the meet, Tufts placed second out of 11 teams with Dunn winning a trio of races, including the 1,650-yard freestyle—in which she set a new school record (16:47.11). Her time bested her previous record—set at the 2025 NESCAC championship—by more than two seconds (16:49.76). This was the third meet in a row in which she’s placed first in the event.
“Going into the NESCAC championships, I knew it was going to be a really close fight between Tufts and Williams,” Dunn said. “My goal was just to get my hand on the wall first, before any of my competitors could.”
Dunn was so focused on performing on behalf of her team, she was “a little shocked” to hear that she had been named Swimmer of the Year, because “the NESCAC had so many fast swimmers this year.”
“When I found out I was the first Tufts student-athlete to be awarded the title, I couldn’t believe it either,” Dunn said. “There have been so many incredible swimmers on past teams, national champions and Olympic trial qualifiers. It’s really special, and I’m very honored.”
Madeleine Dunn, A26, walks under an arch made by her teammates' interlaced hands during a senior celebration. Photo: Courtesy of Tufts Athletics
Evolving In and Out of The Pool
Growing up in Austin, Texas, Dunn began swimming on a team when she was 5, and started competing year-round when she was 9. Knowing that this would be her last season competing gave her an extra push during the end of hard workouts. She also attributes her teammates as a motivating factor.
“Being able to lead the team as an upperclassman has meant so much to me,” Dunn said. “During my freshman year, I had great seniors who I looked up to and learned from, and now I get to step into that role and be the role model that my teammates look up to.”
One of the seniors she connected with as a first-year student was Claire Brennan, A23. In Dunn’s first season and Brennan’s last, the pair earned first and second place respectively in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2023 NESCAC championship—each breaking a school record with their performances.
Dunn holds the current record with a swift time of 4:49.80, set at the 2025 NESCAC championship meet. She also set the record for the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:58.87) that same day.
“Madeleine had a great final year of high school, so we thought we were getting a good recruit in her. Then we realized she was one of the best recruits to ever come to Tufts.”
For Hoyt, who has been a collegiate coach for more than 20 years, seeing Dunn smash records since the early days in the pool for Tufts has been something special.
“Madeleine had a great final year of high school, so we thought we were getting a good recruit in her,” Hoyt said. “Then we realized she was one of the best recruits to ever come to Tufts.”
It was easy for Hoyt and his coaching staff to believe in Dunn because of her commitment to the team and to the sport. Now, heading into the NCAA Division III national championship meet at Indiana University-Indianapolis March 18-21, he is reminding Dunn and her teammates what an honor it is simply to compete at this level.
Madeleine Dunn holds her awards for placing sixth in two freestyle events at the 2025 NCAA Division III women's swimming and diving championship. Photo: Courtesy of Tufts Athletics
“The definition of our team and the athletes on our team is how they've shown up every day of the year,” Hoyt said. “One weekend isn’t going to change that. We always try to stress is what you do on a daily basis is a greater, more accurate definition of your values and who you are, as opposed to a singular moment in time.”
After the NCAAs, you may not find Dunn competing in a pool, but things won’t necessarily slow down for her. The biopsychology major plans to take the MCAT before commencement and will apply to medical school during a gap year. She hopes to stay in Boston and pursue clinical research—and is pursuing a new dream.
“I want to run the Boston Marathon,” she said of her plans to train for her first marathon. “It would be a really hard one to get into—but it would definitely be the coolest one to run, I think.”
