Midland dual offers KCAC preview

SIOUX CITY, IOWA- Mustang swimmers showed off their winter training progress this Saturday in their home pool against Midland, giving a sneak peek of two of the teams competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships.

The women's 200-yard medley relay of Maddy Slaughter, Natalie Hunt, Grace Holzerland, and Makenna Laher began the meet with a third place finish with a time of 2:00.50. The men's team of JR Albers, James Camp, Kyler Severson, and Caleb Thomson had a close race finishing in second place with a time of 1:38. 58 for an automatic cut for nationals. 

The distance crew kicked the individual events off with some best times from both the men and women's teams. In the 1,000-yard freestyle Kirstin Verplanke took first place with a time of 11:55.40, and teammates Payton Miller and Elaine Morgan finished strong behind her in second (12:11.71) and third place (12:13.38). In the same event Trey Kennedy scored a first place standing with a time of 10:28.94, with teammates James Spicer taking second place (10:35.79) and Ben No finishing in third place (12:05.68). 

Continuing the day, James Camp made another provisional cut in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 50.81, also placing him first. Nash Perisho finished in second place behind Camp with a time of 55.27.

Sprinters Joe Ciriaco and Rachel Roose made top finishes in the 50-yard freestyle. Rachel Roose sprinted to first place with a time of 25.78 and Joe Ciriaco finished second with a provisional cut time of 21.86.

James Spicer had a great race in the 500-yard freestyle. Swimming neck and neck with Midland, he touched the wall in second place with a time of 5:02.70.

The upcoming week will be a  recovery week for the Mustangs as they travel to Fremont, Neb. for the KCAC Conference Championships on Feb. 3-5.