The NMU Men’s and Women’s swimming and diving teams emerged victorious last weekend at St. Cloud State University before their two week break leading up to their meets at Grand Valley State University.
The men’s team won on Friday Oct. 20 with a score of 163.5-79.5. Sophomore Lajos Budai, junior Grantas Dapkus and junior Janne Roovers combined to win each freestyle swim. Dapkus took the 200-yard freestyle in 1: 43.83 and the 500-yard freestyle in 4:48.80. In the 50-yard freestyle, Budai won with a time of 21.31 and won the 100-yard freestyle in 46.74. NMU even took 200-yard races with Junior Ryan Knox-Leonard winning the 200-yard individual medley with the time of 1:55.83.
“This was the men’s first road trip and they did very well,” head coach Heidi Voigt said.
“I look forward to seeing what they can do if we can keep them healthy.”
On Saturday, the men’s team claimed victory with a score of 147.5-95.5. Budai gave NMU two first place finishes; winning the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:44.69 and the 100-yard backstroke in 51.64. Roovers won the 500-yard free in 4:48.44 and junior Arnoldo Herrera took the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 57.93.
The women’s team took on three colleges last weekend, and won each day. On Friday the women’s team won against St. Cloud State with a score of 153.5-89.5, Northern State University with a score of 199.0-38.0, and Minnesota State University-Moorhead with a score of 174.0-69.0. Sophomore Rachel Helm and freshman Gabriella Spajic led NMU as both won two events. Helm won the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:07.41 and the 200-yard backstroke in 2:01.69. Spajic claimed the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:07.98 and the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:09.82.
On Saturday the women’s team claimed victory again against the three colleges, this time with a score of 155-5-87.50 against St. Cloud, 193-42 against Northern State and 184-58 against Minnesota State-Moorhead. That day the team swept the relays. Junior Regan Kilburn, junior Dana Stroven, Spajic, and freshman Lena Soulas won the 400-yard medley relay. Freshman Margaret Vaitkus, sophomore Victoria Reese, sophomore Madelyn Irelan and Helm won the 400-yard freestyle relay to win with a time of 3:37.83.
