Vikings set records, shine in championships, playoffs
The Augustana Vikings had a standout weekend with multiple teams delivering impressive performances. From a conference championship in the pool to a playoff-clinching win on the ice, Augustana athletes showcased their talent across the board.
The women’s swimming and diving team took home their third consecutive NSIC championship in Fargo, North Dakota after three days of competition. The Vikings placed first in numerous events and held top-10 finishes with several all-conference honors.
The men's swimming and diving team will compete in the GLIAC championship beginning Feb. 19–22 in Holland, Michigan.
Back on their home ice after an away series, Viking Hockey not only secured a spot in the CCHA playoffs but also received home advantage after defeating Michigan Tech with a final score of 5-1 on Friday, Feb. 14. Saturday’s game ended in a tie following two overtimes and a shootout in front of a sold-out crowd, which closed the team’s conference season with a record of 9-5-2.
The Vikings look to wrap up their regular season as they host Alaska Fairbanks on Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22. The first round of the CCHA playoffs will begin on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8. An additional game may be played Sunday, March 9, in the event of a tie.
The No. 11 Vikings Acrobatics and Tumbling team vaulted into their third season with a victory over Missouri State on Feb. 15 in Springfield, Missouri, recording a final score of 261.300 to 144.675 — the highest opening-meet score in program history. The team event also earned them 91.550, the fifth-highest event score in program history. The 2025 debut marked the Vikings’ second win in back-to-back season openers.
Acro and Tumbling will return to their home mats to host No. 3 Gannon University on Monday, March 3, in the Elmen Center at 6 p.m.
Up north in Brookings, the men’s and women’s track and field teams finished the weekend with 15 athletes securing 17 top-10 finishes. Senior Trent DeCook won the men’s 200-meter dash with a final time of 21.89 seconds on Friday, Feb. 14, and senior Lily Juhnke won the women’s 200-meter dash on Saturday with a personal record of 25.20 seconds.
Senior Nyanas Kur finished runner-up in the women’s 400-meter dash with a time of 55.22 seconds, earning a new personal best and breaking the Augustana record for the event – Maia Peterson’s 2024 time of 56.33.
The Vikings track and field teams will head back up to Brookings for the SDSU Last Chance meet on Friday, Feb. 21, before the NSIC Indoor Championships on Feb. 28 and March 1 in Mankato, Minnesota.
