HOLLAND, Mich. – In five events to close the 2024 GLIAC Championships, the Augustana men's swimming and diving team set four new school records. In all, Augustana accumulated 224 points in just its third year of existence with a men's program.
 
Mason Kauffeld highlighted the day with a fourth-place finish and an NCAA Division II 'B' standard time of 2:00.20 in the 200 breaststroke. He qualified for the A Final with a then school record of 2:01.02. That record lasted just a couple of hours as his finish in the final took more than two seconds off his previous school record when he set it at the championships in 2023.
 
The 200 backstroke was a fruitful event for the Vikings with three members in the B Final. Aeson Akins lowered his school record with a finals time of 1:49.32 to place 10^th overall. Matthew Pietsch placed 13^th by touching the wall in 1:50.32, a time that would have set a school record if not for Akins time. In 14^th, Jackson Dircks finished in 1:50.75, also a time that would have set a new school record.
 
Isaac Rokusek finished his strong championships performance in the 100 free with a time of 45.95 and in 15^th position. Earlier in the day he set a school record with a time of 45.65.
 
In the final event of the meet, the 400 free relay team of Rokusek, Peyton Bartsch, Dircks and Pedro Borin crushed the school record by timing in at 3:03.83.
 
Augustana will continue practice with members holding 'B' qualifying standards in preparation for the NCAA Championships. Selections for the national meet in Geneva, Ohio, are set for Wednesday, Feb. 28. The NCAA Championships run March 12-16.