ELKHART, Ind. - The 2024 NAIA National Swimming and Diving Championships were special for Josie Briner for reasons that extended beyond what happened in the pool.

After qualifying for three events, Briner closed out her freshman season by becoming the first Midway swimmer to reach the finals of a national race, where she eventually placed 13th in the 200-yard butterfly.

But her proudest moment of the weekend may have come as a spectator. Surrounded by several members of her extended family, Josie got to watch her sister Halle wrap a storied career at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) by winning a national title in the 200 individual medley.

"It almost brings tears to my eyes," Josie says thinking back on the moment nearly a year later. "My whole family was there. And you know how hard everybody works so just to see my sister achieve that was so special."



And while the extended Briner family happily made the jaunt to the previous host site in Columbus, Ga., the trip will be a much shorter one this year.

The 2025 Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships will be held in Elkhart, Ind., which is just a little over three hours north of Briner's hometown of North Manchester.

The drive will be an even shorter one for Halle, who is roughly 30 minutes away in South Bend.

"It's so close to all of our family that we'll be able to be there together, which is so cool," Halle said of a group that will also include their father Craig Briner, the sisters' coach growing up. "It's always helpful to have such a big support system. Not everyone gets that."

That support system will look to provide a confidence boost for Josie, who will once again be competing in three events after becoming the first Midway swimmer to qualify for nationals multiple times.

She earned an at-large invitation to swim in the 200 butterfly and will also compete in the 100 fly and 200 freestyle after hitting national cuts in both races during the season.

Briner has even greater aspirations in her second trip. She says she's in better shape than a year ago, as a concussion in early 2024 kept her out of the pool for a bit and put her behind in her conditioning.

There's also the excitement of getting to return to her home state, which she says would provide a great backdrop if she were able to take a major step forward.

"I think it'll be fun in a new setting," Briner said. "I'm really excited to get another shot. Getting to the A final (and making) All-American would be the dream. Time will tell."

Competition at the national championships began on Wednesday and runs through Saturday. The 100 fly and 200 free will take place on Friday with the 200 fly prelims being held on Saturday.