Mustangs make Senior Day a special one
Morningside honored three seniors on Senior Day — Mkhize, Santiago Vilches, and Jacob Haase — as the Mustangs defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 147–107. For Mkhize, it was a fitting close to a chapter filled with memories.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — MK Mkhize took a moment Saturday to soak it all in, pausing to look around the Hindman-Hobbs Center during his final home swim meet as a Mustang.
Morningside honored three seniors on Senior Day — Mkhize, Santiago Vilches, and Jacob Haase — as the Mustangs defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 147–107. For Mkhize, it was a fitting close to a chapter filled with memories.
"I remember the first time I swam here, and now it's come to an end," Mkhize said. "I've met a lot of great people, and it's an experience I can't put into words."
Mkhize reflected on moments — such as bus rides, practices, and meets — that came full circle as the Mustangs delivered a victory against the Prairie Wolves.
Head coach Bryan Farris praised the impact the senior class has had on the program.
"They've meant a lot to this program," Farris said. "Santiago has been a big addition, and MK and Jacob have made a huge impact. They're leaders you can count on every day, and they'll be successful long after swimming is over."
Morningside piled up 84 points from first-place finishes, including seven individual wins.
Vilches highlighted the day by winning the 100 backstroke in 52.17 seconds, breaking the pool record, before adding a victory in the 200 backstroke (1:55.79).
John Spicer accounted for four wins, taking the 50 freestyle (21.33) and 100 freestyle (47.38), while anchoring both the 400 medley relay (3:33.06) with Vilches, Alessandro Zoccolan, and Pedro Fernandes, and the 400 freestyle relay (3:13.44) alongside Vilches, Jack LaRue, and Melle van Veen.
Zoccolan claimed the 200 butterfly (2:00.67), while Fernandes won the 100 butterfly (52.29). Justin Bay added a win in the 200 breaststroke (2:13.84) and set a school record in the 100 breaststroke with a second-place time of 58.29.
Additional runner-up finishes came from Alejandro Plaza in the 200 freestyle (1:49.34) and 500 freestyle (5:14.33), van Veen in the 200 backstroke (2:01.55), Zoccolan in the 400 IM (4:21.02), and the 400 freestyle relay of Bay, Fernandes, Keaten Rieken, and Plaza (3:16.97).