Viking men finish 1-1 in dual meets; crown two champions and five additional medalists at CCIW Cup Series
 
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Limited to two dual meets and the "CCIW Cup Series" due to fears over COVID-19, Coach Dan Lloyd's Augustana 2020-21 men's team split its two head-to-head meets and crowned a pair of champions and an additional five medalists at the CCIW Cup, which replaced the cancelled conference championships.
 
The season opened on January 23 with a dual at Illinois Wesleyan. Trailing by 20 points heading into the final two events, the Vikings swept the top two spots in the 200 individual medley and 200 freestyle relay to outscore the Titans 28-5 and claim a 132-129 victory.
 
A week later, Augustana dropped a 122-72 decision at Wheaton. Sophomore Jack Blumenfeld (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.), who was involved in three of the four events won by Lloyd's crew, was subsequently named the CCIW Swimmer of the Week. Blumenfeld captured the 50 (:21.73) and 100 (:47.60) freestyles and anchored the winning 200 free relay.
 
The Vikings were originally scheduled to take on Millikin and Carthage in Kenosha, Wisconsin on February 13, but that competition was cancelled.
 
The CCIW Cup Series, on the weekend of February 26-27, consisted of three separate meets. Carroll and Millikin competed at Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin on Friday and on Saturday, Illinois Wesleyan and North Central swam at Wheaton, while Augustana was at Carthage. Top times from the three competitions were compared in each event to determine individual standings. No team scores were compiled.
 
The Vikings got winning efforts from sophomore Isaiah Valentine (Walnut Hills HS, Cincinnati, Ohio) in the 400 individual medley (4:21.06) and from the 400 medley relay (3:36.21) team of junior Aidan McConkey (Olympia HS, Windermere, Fla.), senior Brett Keefe (Rockford Christian HS, Machesney Park, Ill.), Valentine and Blumenfeld.
 
Other medal-winning performances included Blumenfeld's silver in the 100 (:47.22) and 200 (1:45.71) freestyles, McConkey's silver in the 100 backstroke (:53.61) and bronze efforts from Valentine in the 200 butterfly (1:59.43) and freshman Nick Phillips (Woodstock North HS, Wonder Lake, Ill.) in the 100 backstroke (:53.91).
 
Blumenfeld, Keefe, McConkey, Phillips and Valentine all received All-CCIW recognition.
 
 
2021 CCIW Cup Series
February 26, 2021— Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
February 27, 2021— Pleasant Prairie, Wis. and Wheaton, Ill.
 
Team Results: No team scores
 
Individual Champions and Augustana Top 10 finishers
50 freestyle: 1. Ethan Lowder, Illinois Wesleyan :20.84; 8. Jack Blumenfeld, AUGUSTANA :21.68
100 freestyle: 1. Adam Moskus, Carthage :46.36; 2. Jack Blumenfeld, AUGUSTANA :47.22
200 freestyle: 1. Ethan Hare, Carthage 1:45.53; 2. Jack Blumenfeld, AUGUSTANA 1:45.71; 9. Isaiah Valentine, AUGUSTANA 1:53.02; 10. Jason Palmer, AUGUSTANA 1:57.13
500 freestyle: 1. Mason McCauley, Illinois Wesleyan 4:41.15; 9. Jason Palmer, AUGUSTANA 5:29.57
1650 freestyle: 1. Mason McCauley, Illinois Wesleyan 16:20.90
100 backstroke: 1. Connor Davis, Wheaton :52.49; 2. Aidan McConkey, AUGUSTANA :53.61; 3. Nick Phillips, AUGUSTANA :53.91; 4. Charles Young, AUGUSTANA :54.42
200 backstroke: 1. Ethan Hare, Carthage 1:53.80; 4. Charles Young, AUGUSTANA 1:58.19; 5. Aidan McConkey, AUGUSTANA 2:01.97
100 breaststroke: 1. Anthony Fitzgerald, Wheaton :55.56; 5. Brett Keefe, AUGUSTANA 1:01.29
200 breaststroke: 1. Anthony Fitzgerald, Wheaton 2:02.54
100 butterfly: 1. Mitch Mages, Carthage :49.93; 5. Jeremy Wolf, AUGUSTANA :53.04; 6. Tito Quinones, AUGUSTANA :53.57
200 butterfly:  1. Mason McCauley, Illinois Wesleyan 1:53.45; 3. Isaiah Valentine, AUGUSTANA 1:59.43; 5. Jack Brandt, AUGUSTANA 2:08.42
200 IM: 1. Garrett Shuldes, Carthage 2:05.41; 4. Evan Juarez, AUGUSTANA 2:08.95
400 IM: 1. Isaiah Valentine, AUGUSTANA 4:21.06
200 freestyle relay: 1. Carthage 1:21.96; 2. AUGUSTANA (Nick Phillips, Jeremy Wolf, Aidan McConkey, Jack Blumenfeld) 1:25.78
400 freestyle relay: 1. Carthage 3:06.49; 3. AUGUSTANA (Nick Phillips, Jeremy Wolf, Isaiah Valentine, Jack Blumenfeld) 3:11.87
800 freestyle relay: 1. Illinois Wesleyan 7:28.39
200 medley relay: 1. Wheaton 1:32.50; 2. AUGUSTANA (Nick Phillips, Brett Keefe, Tito Quinones, Jack Blumenfeld) 1:37.93
400 medley relay: 1. AUGUSTANA (Aidan McConkey, Brett Keefe, Isaiah Valentine, Jack Blumenfeld) 3:36.21
One-meter diving: 1. Jack Troyer, Illinois Wesleyan 421.70
Three-meter diving: 1. Jack Troyer, Illinois Wesleyan 411.40
 
2020-21 AUGUSTANA SUPERLATIVES
DUAL MEET RECORD: 1-1
COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN FINISH: Championships cancelled, replaced with CCIW Cup Series
CCIW ALL-CONFERENCE: Jack Blumenfeld, Brett Keefe, Aidan McConkey, Nick Phillips, Isaiah Valentine
CCIW ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE: Evan Juarez, Aidan McConkey, Isaiah Valentine
CCIW SWIMMER OF THE WEEK: Jack Blumenfeld, 2/2/21
SCHOOL RECORDS: None
TEAM FINISHES IN INVITATIONALS:
INVITATIONAL INDIVIDUAL & RELAY CHAMPIONS:
 
ALL-TIME TOP 10 LISTS
Jack Blumenfeld: 100 freestyle (6th—:47.22); 50 freestyle (7th—:21.68); 200 freestyle (9th—1:45.71)
Nick Phillips: 100 backstroke (8th—:53.91)
Charles Young: 100 backstroke (10th—:54.42)