Mustangs host home opener vs St. Ambrose

Morningside made a splash in its home pool this weekend hosting a dual against St. Ambrose.

Mustangs Kirsten Verplanke and James Spicer kicked off the meet with two first place finishes for the women's and men's teams in the 1,000-yard freestyle. Verplanke swam in to first place with a time of 12:05.82 and her teammates Elaine Morgan and Payton Miller finished just behind her taking second and third in the event. Spicer swam a respectable 10:45.68, nearly 45 seconds ahead of second place.

Later on, Willy Pinnow took the stage in the 200-yard freestyle as he out touched St. Ambrose, winning with a time of 1:46.85, besting the NAIA B standard.

Wrapping up the night's individual events Grace Holzerland swam into first place in the 100-yard breaststroke as she finished with a time of 1:14.60.

In the final event of the night, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the women's team of Mackenzie Campbell, Kirstin Verplanke, Haylie Folsom, and Elaine Morgan raced to third with a time of 4:10.64. The men's team of Willy Pinnow, Caleb Thomson, Caden Morton, and Easton Gelinne snagged a second-place title with a time of 3:21.48. 

For team scores the women's team earned a total of 63 points and the men's team 73 points. St. Ambrose won the dual with almost double the points for both the men's and women's teams.

The Mustangs will be competing in their home pool for the second time this season for the Morningside University Invitational on Friday, Nov. 12 and Saturday Nov. 13.