MONMOUTH, Ill. – A pool record performance in the final event of the evening propelled Augustana to a 103-98 victory over Monmouth on Friday, November 16 in Monmouth, Illinois. The meet was tied 92-92 with only the 200 freestyle relay remaining and the Vikings of head coach Dan Lloyd got the performance they needed from a quartet that consisted of three seniors and a sophomore.
 
The team that won the 200 freestyle relay was going to get the 11 points needed to secure the victory and Augustana not only got the win in the event to secure the dual meet but also set a new Pepper Natatorium record in the process.  Senior Bryan Haage (Huntley HS, Huntley, Ill.) led off and got the Vikings a lead they wouldn't relinquish with a :22.79 leg. Sophomore Jeremy Wolf (Woodstock HS, Woodstock, Ill.) and senior Luke Herron (Vail Christian HS, Edwards, Colo.) maintained the lead with splits of :22.34 and :22.43 respectively and then senior Jared Ekberg (Rockford Christian HS, Rockford, Ill.) roared home with a clocking of :21.6. It all added up to a winning time of 1:28.92 as Monmouth finished in second with a time of 1:30.24.
 
Ekberg also won the 100 butterfly in a time of :52.36 and that led a one-two-three sweep by the Vikings as Wolf took second (57.20) and senior Anthony Santangelo (St. Andrews Episcopal HS, Brandon, Miss.) placed third (:58.67). Wolf also picked up a win in the 200 freestyle (1:52.86) and Ekberg recorded a third place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.10).
 
Haage won the 200 individual medley in 2:03.82 and was third in the 100 backstroke (:56.26). Herron placed first in the 100 freestyle (:49.97 and third in the 200 freestyle (1:59.11).
 
Freshman Aidan McConkey (Olympia HS, Windermere, Fla.) won the 50 freestyle in :23.27 and was second in the 100 backstroke (:56.18).
 
The 200 medley relay team of sophomore Charles Young (St. Charles East HS, St. Charles, Ill.), sophomore Brett Keefe (Rockford Christian HS, Machesney Park, Ill.), junior Zach Ogden (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) and McConkey opened the meet with a second place finish in 1:43.53. Keefe also finished second in both the 100 freestyle (:52.40) and the 100 breaststroke (1:01.75).
 
Junior Connor Bullard (Rockford Auburn HS, Loves Park, Ill.) took third in the 1000 freestyle in 11:54.10.
 
Augustana, which is now 3-1 on the season, will compete at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational on Saturday, November 17 in Bloomington, Illinois.