GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore swimmer Braden Ripken (Blaine, Minn.) made his NCAA debut Wednesday, competing in the 50-yard freestyle prelims on March 19 Greensboro Aquatic Center. 

Ripken, who qualified for the championship meet in the 100 breaststroke, also swims in the 200 of the same event, as well as the 50 freestyle, which took place Wednesday morning. Ripken swam a 21.31 in the prelims for 46th overall. He was seeded 43rd in the event with a time of 20.95.

His 21.31 at the NCAA meet was his second-best time of the season, behind only his 20.95 at the MIAC Championships a few weeks prior. 

Ripken has tomorrow off of competition, before competing in the 100-yard breaststroke on Friday, with prelims to begin at 9 a.m. (CT). The sophomore is seeded 16th in the event with a time of 54.46. The top seed in the 100 breaststroke is Emory's Henri Bonnault with a time of 52.71. The top-16 times from the morning sessions advance to the evening in two sets of finals. Those in the "A" final (1-8) earn All-America status, while those in the "B" final (9-16) are awarded All-America honorable mention distinction. 

He will also compete in the 200-yard breaststroke, with a seed time of 2:16.05 which ranks 27th, on Saturday, March 22.