Southern Sensations – Morningside collects 10 All-American awards at NAIAs

COLUMBUS, GA. – In a couple of short sentences, Morningside University head men's and women's swimming coach Bryan Farris summed up one of the program's best National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics meets. 

"We're to a point now where we're not just satisfied with having a good time at nationals," he said. "We're here to swim good times." 

They did just that at the Columbus Aquatic Center from Wednesday, March 2, through Saturday, March 5. The Mustangs headed back home with 10 All-American awards for the men's squad and women's team performances that included dropping eight seconds off the 800-yard freestyle relay and two seconds off the 400-yard freestyle relay previous season-best times. 

"What we did isn't something that just happens every day," Farris admitted. "It's so much tougher on the national level --- with the stage you're competing at and the competition. It came down to competing as a team and didn't back down from the challenge. We showed everyone what we're capable of." 

Mside's four-day resume included an All-American outing for the men's 400-yard freestyle relay. Juniors JR Albers (Gillette, Wy.) and Caleb Thomson (Libertyville, Ill.) and sophomores Willy Pinnow (Elkhorn, Wis.) and Joe Ciriaco (Papillion, Neb.) clocked a 3:06.34 for sixth place. Pinnow began his day with a 1:55.85 in the 200-yard backstroke, which took down one of the oldest records on the Hindman-Hobbs Natatorium.

Ciriaco wound up a three-time All-American. Albers, senior James Camp (Brisbane, Australia) and Thomson received two awards apiece.

The Mustangs men's team finished the four-day meet with 98 points, suitable for a sterling 12^th place finish. While the women didn't get into the points column, Farris noted they were right there towards doing so.

"The support for each team and the other's events was amazing," Farris said. "It led to what occurred overall. We knew what we could do. It was a matter of going out and doing so."