MIAC Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's junior Brayden Slavik (Green Isle, Minn./Chaska) and senior Eli Grabinski (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) were named the MIAC Men's Swimming and Diving Athletes of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Slavik touched the wall first in the 500- (4:50.34) and 1,000-yard (9:50.11) freestyles as SJU took first place out of five teams this past Saturday (Jan. 11) at Luther's Sprint Invitational. He currently holds the MIAC's top time in the 500- (4:34.69), 1,000- (9:37.89) and 1,650-yard (15:54.60) freestyles, as well as the 100-yard backstroke (51.88) and 400-yard individual medley (4:05.58); is second in the 50- (24.44) and 200-yard (1:54.76) backstrokes; and fifth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.26).

The weekly accolade is the fifth for Slavik, who is a four-time All-MIAC honoree and the defending conference champion in the 400-yard individual medley and 1,650-yard freestyle. He owns the program records in the 500- (4:32.97), 1,000- (9:30.45) and 1,650-yard (15:48.67) freestyles.

Grabinski, meanwhile, swept the diving events with wins in the 1- (268.00) and 3-meter (282.00) boards at Luther. The MIAC weekly honor is the 11th for Grabinski, who is a three-time MIAC Men's Diver of the Year and four-time MIAC champion. He qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 1-meter dive in Oct. 18's season-opening win over Minnesota-Morris and achieved the feat on the 3-meter board Oct. 26 at Macalester. The NCAA appearance will be Grabinski's fourth later this winter.

The Johnnies host Division II St. Cloud State for a 1 p.m. dual meet this Saturday, Jan. 18, in the Warner Palaestra Pool.