Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu
DECATUR, Ill. (Oct. 18, 2025)- Starting their season off in Decatur, Ill., for the Millikin Triangular, the North Central College men's and women's swimming and diving team placed third, falling to Millikin University (205-105) and Illinois College (276-86) at the Decatur Family YMCA.
On the women's side, Celina McDaniel executed in the 200-yard individual medley, placing second (2:36.86). Ayla Pequette and Addison Bludgen both placed near the top in the 100-yard freestyle, taking second and third place, respectively, with final times of 1:02.03 and 1:02.12. Victoria Robinson finished sixth (1:04.41). In the 50-yard freestyle, Bludgen placed fourth with a final time of 28.55 seconds, while Caitlin Suda finished in sixth with a time of 29.96 seconds. Amelia Minarik swam in the 1000-yard freestyle race, where she placed fourth and clocked in at 13:07.93.
North Central held an early lead in the 200-yard medley relay, with Suda swimming ahead of the competition, finishing her leg with a time of 31.76 seconds. Minarik clocked in at 39.02 during her stint. A strong finish by McDaniel (29.22) and Bludgen (27.50) helped the Cardinals place second in the 200-yard medley relay with a total time of 2:07.50.
The men's team had Mihir Chandra place in the top three in multiple events today, including a first-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke, where he finished with a time of 1:05.58. Chandra placed second in the 100-yard freestyle (50.48) and third in the 50-yard freestyle (22.98). Griffin Laurin placed third in the 500-yard freestyle (5:34.52). Laurin also competed in the 200-yard freestyle and kept pace through much of the race. He ultimately placed fourth with a time of 2:00.27 and placed fifth in the 100-yard butterfly (1:01.71). Clark Wilson placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:12.94. He also competed in the 50-yard freestyle, completing that in 24.62 seconds to place fifth. Wilson's third race saw him place sixth in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 56.20 seconds.
Swim and dive returns to action Saturday, Oct. 25, when they travel to Elkhart, Ind., for a quad meet hosted by Bethel University (Ind.). The events will begin at 1 p.m. from the Elkhart Aquatic Center.
