Men’s pool debut sees NAIA provisional marks hit, records fall

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – The Morningside University men's swimming team flexed its depth as it took the top spot at the GPAC Invitational with 733 points, outpacing Dordt University's 433.

The Mustangs set the tone early with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay, as Santiago Vilches, Justin Bay, Pedro Fernandes, and Jack La Rue touched in 1:36.29, a new meet record. The Mustangs closed the meet in similar fashion, winning the 200 freestyle relay in 1:29.28 behind Fernandes, freshman Melle van Veen, Hunter Henrich, and John Spicer.

Spicer, a junior, hit the NAIA provisional cut with a win in the 200 freestyle at 1:45.12 and added another provisional standard in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.65 seconds. He capped his individual events with a victory in the 100 freestyle at 47.82 seconds, also under the provisional standard.

Fernandes also had a standout meet, clocking 50.89 seconds in the 100 butterfly to grab a provisional mark, and adding a runner-up finish in the 100 free. Bay, meanwhile, swept both breaststroke events, winning the 50-yard breaststroke in 26.71 seconds for a meet record and the 100 breast in 1:00.15, while also lowering the pool record in the 100 IM with a time of 52.49.

Alessandro Zoccolan won the 1,000 freestyle in a meet-record swim of 10:11.74, and van Veen added a victory in the 500-yard freestyle at 5:12.09. Vilches topped the field in the 100-yard backstroke at 53.20 seconds, just off the NAIA provisional mark.

The Mustangs look to build off the strong start as they return to the pool on Friday, Oct. 3, competing in a dual against Dordt at 6 p.m.