“Viking Legends Dive Into Senior Night This Friday!”

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana swimming & diving will be competing at the Midco Aquatic Center for the first occasion on Friday, welcoming South Dakota State for Senior Night. The Senior Night ceremony is scheduled to occur following diving, which begins at 4:30 p.m. The first swim is scheduled for 6 p.m.

For the women ranked No. 20, Anna Tindall, Libby Breckon, Lara Carnier Matuck, Angelina Chan, Leona Coha, Erin Danielewicz, Nesrine Jelliti, Makoa Montgomery, Meesha Montgomery, Meghan Mulvihill, Abby Nelson, Kate Robbins, Anna Schmidt and Amaya Street will all receive recognition.

On the men’s side, Aeson Akins, Steven Asmus, Evan Bell, Pedro Borin, Jackson Dircks, Jack Johnson, Mason Kauffeld, Aidan McCusker, Brady Monson, Lui Gabriel Pinto and Xander Smith will be honored.

Friday marks the first occasion the Vikings will enter the pool for competition in over a month, having last competed in the Rochester Invitational from Dec. 5-7.

During the event in Rochester, Augustana witnessed several records fall and qualification standards met. Leading the charge was Bryn Greenwaldt, named NSIC Swimmer of the Week on Dec. 10. Greenwaldt achieved an NCAA A cut and two NCAA B cuts individually, along with two B cuts in relays. Her time of 22.11 in the 50 free ranks as the fourth fastest in NCAA DII history. Overall, Greenwaldt secured seven victories and five national qualifying times across seven events while breaking two school records in both the 50 free and 50 back.

Jelliti also shattered two school records at the invitational, completing the 100 breast in 1:02.26 and the 200 breast in 2:20.41. Her time in the 100 breast was sufficient for national qualification, while her performance in the 200 breast fell short by less than a second.

Greenwaldt, Jelliti, Chan and Meesha Montgomery claimed victory in the 200 medley relay, marking their second provisional cut in as many races and narrowly missing the school record. Together, Greenwaldt, Chan, and Montgomery, along with Makoa Montgomery, achieved qualification in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:32.76.

Among the men, eight records fell during the three-day invitational. Matthew Pietsch led the effort, finishing the 500 free in 4:39.70 and the 200 back in 1:48.84. Also setting records was David Binsfeld. Binsfeld’s total of 436.05 points in the 1m 11 dive earned him a spot at the NCAA prequalifying meet, and the following night, he broke the 3m dive record with a first-place finish and a score of 455.40 points.

In the 100 breast, Kauffeld seized first place with a finish of 55.82, now holding the top two times ever recorded in program history. Peyton Bartsch secured second place with a time of 51.67 in the men’s 100-yard IM, which puts him atop the program history for that event. Additional records were achieved by Isaac Rokusek (100 free, 45.53) and Dircks (50 back, 23.32).

The Vikings will continue their home stretch next weekend as they host St. Thomas and Sioux Falls for a triangular meet on Jan. 17.

–GoAugie.com–