Mustang men end home season on high note

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside's men picked up the dual victory in their home swimming finale today, taking the top spot in 10 events on the way to scoring 141 points.

The meet started out on the right foot for the Mustangs as Justin Bay, Caden Morton, Jack La Rue, and Cael Jensen won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:39.96.

Jake Bolda was next to claim victory for the men, touching first in the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:18.56 with Ethan Van Tassel second in 12:00.77. Bolda would repeat in the 500-yard freestyle, winning in 5:00.39 with Alejandro Plaza behind in 5:24.02 and Van Tassel third in 5:45.78. Plaza got his own title in the 200-yard freestyle, winning in 1:49.82 with MK Mkhize behind for third in 1:49.19.

John Spicer was the top finisher in the 50-yard freestyle, touching in 21.45, with Bay and Mateus Kozlowski in tow in 21.72 and 23.13 seconds, respectively. Spicer and Bay's times were both good enough to best the NAIA provisional qualifying mark. Spicer also took second place in the 100-yard backstroke, while Bay was the champion in the 100-yard breaststroke, recording his second provisional mark of the day in 58.60.

In the 200-yard individual medley, Morton was the event champion, touching the wall in 2:16.72 with teammate Alec McEntaffer third in 2:16.72. Morton also took second in the 200-yard breaststroke in 1:01.90, and LaRue placed third in 1:04.04 after a first place finish in the 100-yard butterfly. 

Jensen was atop the standings again in the 100-yard freestyle, touching in 51.03 seconds with Kozlowski one tenth of a second behind for second place, before Spicer, Mkhize, Kozlowski, and Jensen took the top spot in the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:30.15.

The Mustangs are back in the pool on Saturday at Nebraska Wesleyan before heading to the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships in February.