Dustin Veurink

The Jackrabbit swimming and diving teams were busy breaking records in their season finale at the Summit League Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 18 to 20.

“Every year we prepare to have our best swims at championships,” said head coach Brad Erickson. “And every year our staff is amazed that our athletes continue to re-write the record book. It shows that with hard work and dedication, great things can happen.”

Day one was successful, with many high places achieved and school records broken.

The men broke school records in the 500 freestyle and the 200 style relay. Freshman Kyle Ochsner placed second in the 500 with 4 minutes, 35.40 seconds. John Bisson, John Goossens, Jason Garder and Jeremy Yacevich placed fourth with 1:25.74 in the 200 freestyle relay.

The women also had a school record broken on day one, as senior Christina Gerometta broke her own time with 5:1.34 in the 500 freestyle, taking fourth place.

On day two, the men’s team broke their third record of the meet. The 800 freestyle relay team of Ochsner, Andrew Martin, Tyler Webb and Mark Sandager were clocked at 7:00.50, good for fifth.

The women’s team broke five school records on day two alone.

In the 100 breaststroke, senior Katie Budahl not only broke the school record, but the conference record as well, at 1:01.56. Senior Emily Tschetter placed third in the 400 individual medley. Her time of 4:33.43 broke her own school record.

The women broke two school relay records. Jessica Ferley, Budahl, Ashley Valdez and Alexandra Hoffman placed fourth in the 200 medley relay in 1:47.61. Ferley, Kayleigh Boucher, Gerometta and Hoffman placed second in the 800 freestyle relay in 7:43.35.

Freshman Erin Eagen rebroke her school record in 3-meter diving, placing fourth with 254.70 points.

On day three, Ochsner broke the school record in the 1,650 freestyle in 16:11.13.

Gerometta placed second in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 17:12.84, breaking her own school record by 38 seconds.

To end the season, the men placed fourth out of seven teams and the women finished runner-up to Oakland.

“Finishing second and fourth were team goals that we set and accomplished,” said Erickson. “As we look back on the season, we had many student-athletes accomplish and exceed the goals they set for themselves.”