Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu

MONMOUTH, Ill. (Jan. 17, 2026)- Competing in their second head-to-head dual of the season, the North Central College swimming and diving team captured three season bests in the dual against Monmouth on Saturday afternoon in Pepper Natatorium. The men's team fell to Monmouth 57-26, while the women fell 86-45. 

The Cardinals fielded two teams in the mixed 200-yard medley relay, with the team of Caitlin Suda, Abigael Sheldon, Celina McDaniel, and Clark Wilson combining for a time of 2:01.41. The second team for North Central featured Addison Bludgen, Amelia Minarik, Griffin Laurin, and Ayla Pequette, as they finished with a time of 2:07.71. 

In the 400-yard mixed freestyle, Laurin, Wilson, McDaniel, and Minarik teamed up for a time of 4:12.97, while Sheldon, Pequette, Bludgen, and Sydney Sprayberry timed in at 4:14.97. 

Individually, Laurin competed in the 200-yard freestyle and finished with a time of 1:58.73, which was .71 seconds behind the first-place finish. Sprayberry and Minarik competed in the 200-yard freestyle, where Minarik put up a time of 2:29.52, while Sprayberry clocked in a time of 2:11.64, which marks a season best, improving her time by 4.18. 

Wilson picked up North Central's lone event win in the 50-yard freestyle, timing in at 24.62, while Pequette and Suda competed for the women in the 50-yard freestyle. Pequette finished the race in 28.16 and Suda in 33.34. 

Sheldon competed in the 100-yard freestyle as the race ended in a photo finish, with Sheldon finishing in second place with a time of 1:00.19, just two tenths of a second behind first place. 

Suda registered a season high in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:09.84, shaving off 0.87 seconds. 

Sprayberry showed out with a season high in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing with a time of 5:58.08, improving her season best by 17.36 seconds. 

The Cardinals return to action next weekend for the Thunder Invitational hosted by Wheaton College. The meet begins Friday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m. and goes through Saturday, Jan. 24.