MSUM Swim & Dive Begins New 12 months with Dragon Invite

MOORHEAD, Minn. — Minnesota State Moorhead swimming & diving embarks on the 2026 calendar yr on the MSUM-hosted Dragon Invite this Friday and Saturday. Competition from Hulbert Aquatic Center in West Fargo, N.D., is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Friday. Saturday will characteristic a preliminary classes at 10 a.m. and a finals session at 4 p.m. 

Live video shall be accessible at msumdragons.com. The Dragons haven’t competed because the Rochester Invitational in early December. 

Leon Strong Again…Sophomore Fernanda Leon seemed sharp all week for the Dragons on the Rochester Invitational. On day one, Leon would place second general within the 200-yard IM, incomes a finals mark of two:09.04. Leon would win preliminary motion within the morning with a mark of two:08.69. Friday’s competitors noticed Leon accumulate an occasion win within the 400-yard IM, swimming a time of 4:32.21. Leon had positioned third in preliminary motion with a time of 4:37.26. On the ultimate day of competitors, Leon would look sharp once more on Saturday, incomes runner-up marks within the 200-yard fly championship remaining. Leon marked a 2:06.56 within the finals, which was simply .06 off her collegiate greatest set final season.

Verke Glides…Junior Sophia Verke additionally noticed sturdy outcomes on the Rochester Invitational. Verke clocked a 24.77 within the 50-yard freestyle comfort remaining to win the warmth. In the 100-yard freestyle, the Grand Rapids, Minn., native paced the Dragons with a third-place end within the championship remaining. The junior clocked a 52.59 for the location. Verke swam a 52.81 in preliminary motion.

Moore Of That…Junior Maggie Moore could be proper alongside Verke on the Rochester Invitational. Moore completed simply behind Verke within the 50-yard freestyle comfort remaining, delivering a 24.36. Moore would safe runner-up marks within the 200-yard freestyle comfort remaining, touching the wall at 1:57.55. Moore marked a 1:58.49 in her preliminary swim. The Mesa, Ariz., native would win the C-final of the 100-yard freestyle behind a mark of 53.87.

On The Board…The Dragon divers would proceed to see sturdy outcomes on the Rochester Invitational. In 3-meter diving, Isabelle Johnson would lead the Dragons with an 11-dive rating of 355.75 to complete 10^th. Zoe Bjerke would place 12^th with an general rating of 354.75 whereas Kennedy Olson positioned 16^th with a rating of 305.80. In 1-meter diving, Bjerke would lead the Dragons on Friday, tallying an 11-dive rating of 372.75 for a fifth-place end. Ruth Guy would place 16^th general with a stable rating of 322.70.

Flying Under The Radar…Junior Kelsey Jackson has been one in all Moorhead’s most constant contributors all through the season. At the Rochester Invitational, Jackson would place fourth general within the championship remaining of the 100-yard backstroke. Jackson marked a 58.83 with the junior clocking a private greatest 58.22 within the preliminary, which strikes her into fourth all-time in class historical past.

Charlie King is in his eighth season as MSUM’s head swimming & diving coach.