Saint John's swimming and diving hosts St. Thomas for its final home event of the year this Saturday, Dec. 10. The dual meet is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Warner Palaestra Pool in Collegeville.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: SJU competed at the two-day Wisconsin-River Falls Invitational Dec. 2-3 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. Senior Josh Seaburg (Moorhead, Minn.) claimed eighth, third among Division III swimmers, in the 200-yard butterfly (2:04.20). He also finished 13th (sixth among Division III) in the 500-yard freestyle (4:52.49). Senior Ty Nimens (Crookston, Minn.) took second among Division III swimmers (14th overall) in the 50-yard freestyle (22.06) and freshman Logan Arnold (Moorhead, Minn.) finished 17th overall despite posting a time of 22.03. Arnold missed qualifying for Nimens group by 00.14 of a second. Nimens also finished 25th, sixth among Division III competitors, in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.92). The Johnnies' 200-yard freestyle relay team finished seventh out of 32 foursomes with a time of 1:27.51.
Arnold claimed third in the 100-yard backstroke (54.35) among Division III swimmers Saturday. Seaburg finished fourth among Division III swimmers in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:19.27. Nimens claimed 20th in the 100-yard freestyle, sixth among Division III swimmers, with a time of 48.84. Classmate Jimmy Foley (Moorhead, Minn.) earned eighth place among Division III swimmers (18th overall) in the 1,650-yard freestyle (18:04.58). Junior Ben Maakestad (Minneapolis, Minn./Edina) followed two spots behind in 18:11.84. The Johnnies' 400-yard freestyle relay team, which consists of Arnold, Nimens, Seaburg and sophomore Connor Triggs (Edina, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) , finished third amongst Division III schools with a time of 3:13.38.
MIAC TOP TIMES: Arnold currently boasts the MIAC's second-best time in the 100-yard backstroke (54.35) and is fifth in both the 50- (21.89) and 100-yard (47.67) freestyles. Nimens is third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.92), while Seaburg is third in three events: 200-yard butterfly (2:02.82), 400-yard individual medley (4:19.27) and the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:16.07). Senior Wes Schlichting (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) is second in both the 1- (262.20) and 3-meter (285.10) dives.
A LOOK AT THE TOMMIES: The Tommies won 13 of 18 events to win the two-day, five-team St. Thomas Invitational Dec. 2-3. UST took first in the 200-yard medley, the 800-yard free relay, the 400-yard medley and the 400-yard free relay. Junior Michael Hoelterhoff won the 100-yard backstroke, while freshman Nathan France claimed first in both the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke. Junior Sam Rauchwarter won the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle, while classmate Erik Huls claimed first in the 100-yard fly. Junior Ethan Nimens won the 200-yard individual medley and sophomore Justin Mulee claimed first in the 200-yard backstroke. Sophomore Nick Johnson took first in the 3-meter dive.
