MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Gustavus swimming & diving team had yet another impressive day at the 2024 MIAC Swimming & Diving Championships, winning five events and breaking a school record in the process. Both Gustie teams sit in first after two days of competition. 

The Gustie men continued their dominance in the conference, taking first in every event on day two. Matt Strom took first in the 500 free to start the afternoon finals session, winning with an NCAA B time of 4:30.58. Logan Cyr (4:41.04), Brendan Collins (4:45.96), and Teddy Solensky (4:52.19), finished third, sixth, and eighth, respectively in the event. Peyton Richardson continued the Gusties' winning ways, setting the school record in the 200 IM – twice. Richardson posted a 1:50.79 in the prelims to initially better Nolan Larson's record from 2020, before posting an NCAA B time of 1:50.35 to claim the MIAC crown in the finals. Kieran Ripken added another victory for the Gusties, this time in the 50 freestyle. Ripken finished in 20.79. Other Gusties in the race included his younger brother Braden Ripken (seventh in 21.38) and Aiden Shermak (eighth in 21.57). The team of Richardson, Nyden Hill, Jonathan Cordano, and Cyr finished the night with a win in the 400 medley relay, touching the wall in 3:23.52.

For the Gustie women, first-year Stella Anderson Moye took sixth in the 500 free to claim MIAC Honorable Mention honors in her first conference meet. Marit Isaacson followed with a second-place finish in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:08.12. Leah Soukup finished sixth in 2:12.70 in the same race. Lucy Peterson claimed the MIAC title in the 50 free, finishing first in 23.32. Olivia Koeneman took sixth behind Peterson in 24.59. The Gustie women took fifth in the 400 medley relay, as Mikayla Witte, Hadley Wartner, Mariel Castillo, and Anderson Moye finished in 4:00.23. On the boards, Kaija Pratt, Emmalyn Dickerson, and Gabriella Stoudt took sixth, seventh, and eighth in the 1-meter diving competition – all three were NCAA B qualifying dives.

"I'm really pleased with how both the men's and women's teams competed today," said Head Coach Jon Carlson. "They both performed well, and I think we put ourselves in the picture on the women's side for sure. On the men's side we knew it would be close with Saint John's, and so far we've stepped up to the challenge, and the men haven't lost an event yet.
 
"We're really looking forward to the next two days. It will be close on both sides for sure – Saint John's has the talent to come back and get us, so we need to keep swimming well Friday and Saturday."

The Gusties resume competition Friday morning, with the next preliminary round beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Men's Team Scores Through Thursday
1. Gustavus - 332
2. Saint John's - 202
3. Carleton - 182
4. St. Olaf - 172
5. Macalester - 165
6. Hamline - 16

Women's Team Scores Through Thursday
1. Gustavus - 245
2. Macalester - 210
3. St. Olaf - 199
4. St. Catherine - 192
5. Carleton - 171
6. Saint Benedict - 145
7. Hamline - 85
8. Concordia - 81
9. Augsburg - DNS