Swim team takes fourth at Augustana Invitational
The Augustana women’s swim team took fourth at the three day Augustana Invitational swim meet (Nov. 21 – Nov. 23) at the Midco Aquatic Center, breaking eight school records along the way.
Junior Taylor Beagle said she thought this was the strongest midseason the team has had while she’s been on the team.
“We had some spectacular performances from the underclassmen, and it was just really great to see our team display some of the depth that we have this year,” Beagle said.
Junior Merriam Hagadorn said the team was excited to see what they could do at the meet.
“The midseason meet is the first time in our season where we suit up in our kneeskins and taper a little bit in preparation,” Hagadorn said. “I’m pretty sure almost everyone on the team got a lifetime best, and everyone was just so supportive and happy for each other. It was a great environment.”
Senior Destini Oehlertz placed first and broke the Augie record in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 23.07. Oehlertz later broke her second school record in the 100 yard freestyle when she swam a time of 51.16. She also took third in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 57.24.
Junior Micah Hudlet set a new record in the 100 yard breaststroke when she swam a time of 1:05.06 in the prelims. Hudlet took seventh in the finals with a time of 1:05.37. She later broke another school record in the 100-yard IM with a time of 59.90, earning fifth place in that event.
Hudlet continued to break school records with her time of 2:22.85 in the 200-yard breaststroke, finishing in third place behind South Dakota State University (second) and the University of Sioux Falls (first).
Freshman Cailey Scott placed third and broke the school record with a time of 2:04.86 in the 200-yard backstroke. Senior Emma Miller got third in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:59.52 and the 800-yard freestyle relay ‘A’ team placed third with a time of 7:40.07.
Beagle took third in the 400-yard IM with a time of 4:32.37; Kelsey Gilbert placed fifth with a time of 4:36.69 and Ruth Huffman placed seventh with a time of 4:38.92.
“I was super happy with 400 IM because I haven’t gone a best time in that since freshman year,” Beagle said. “I was also really excited about winning the mile and going a season best in that. I think putting up that time puts me in a good position going into the rest of the year.”
The meet ended with a fourth-place finish and new school record for the 400 yard freestyle relay ‘A’ team (Kamryn Robarge, Linzie Kreizel, Miller and Oehlertz) with a time of 3:30.39.
The Vikings plan to stay focused over the next few months, which includes a training trip to San Diego during Christmas break, according to Beagle.
“As long as we keep putting in the work the next couple of months, midseason should be just a taste of what conference is going to be,” Beagle said.
The Augie swim team hosts Southwest Minnesota State over J-term on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m. and will finish out their regular season at Nebraska-Kearney on Jan. 25.
