PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. -- Both the Augustana Vikings men's and women's swimming & diving teams claimed the CCIW crown on Saturday at the RecPlex, making it back-to-back titles for the men and second in the last three seasons for the women. It is the first time in Augustana swimming & diving history that both teams have won the championship in the same season.

"I am extremely proud of both our men and women for winning conference titles together for the first time in school history," said head coach Dan Lloyd. "This weekend was incredible from start to finish. Adding this to our academic honors this season is the perfect example of the standard of excellence that our incredible student-athletes strive for. This is a moment that they will remember for the rest of their lives and is a testament to the hard work, integrity, and dedication that our team has always held as a standard. This win is for the entire program, alumni, parents, and all of our supporters. It was complete team victory for the Augustana Swimming & Diving family."

Action began on Wednesday with diving events in Kenosha, where three Vikings earned All-CCIW honors. Kaite Zaborenko was the champion in 3-meter dive with a total score of 342.85, nearly 50 higher than the second-place finisher. Kate Kucera earned All-Conference with a third-place standing in the same dive, ending with a score of 286.05. Anna Sanjose secured All-CCIW honors in the 1-meter diving with a score of 291.75 to earn second place. Shazil Farhan notched seventh overall in the 1-meter dive on the men's side to lead the Vikings, tallying a total of 251.65.

On day one of swimming events beginning on the men's side, the 200-freestyle relay team of Oskar Bannister, Tyler Leslie, Lucas Rettig, and Jack Brandt earned a conference title with a time of 1:23.25, while the B-final squad of Tommy Anderson, Hunter Craft, Sam Kulisek, and Albert Buvary also won their race to earn points for the Vikings. Augie saw a school record in the 400-medley relay as Gavin McCorry, Kacper Cebula, Craft, and Leslie took second with a time of 3:23.27. The record breaks last year's mark of 3:23.44. Augustana also saw a B-final win in the 400-medley relay.

In the 500 freestyle, Augie secured two top-five spots, led by Leslie's championship winning time of 4:35.05. Craft came in fifth with a mark of 4:42.06 with Gavin McCorry right behind in sixth. Kacper Cebula earned second in the 200-yard IM, followed in fifth by Michael Garland. The Vikings also tallied three of the top four spots in the B final, led in first by Cesar Castillo. Jack Brandt was the champion in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.93, with Bannister earning third and Rettig and Buvary grabbing the top two spots in the B race.

After day one of swimming, the men sat in second with 296 points, five behind first-place Carthage. It is the first back-to-back titles for the Augustana men since 1970-71.

For the women, Augustana enjoyed second-place finishes in both races in the 200-yard freestyle, with the group of Hailey Glasnovich, Zoe Heiar, Isabelle Sansom, and Kendle Mihm concluding the A-final with a mark of 1:37.90. The 400-medley relay race was won by Augie as Mara Walker, Livy Sholl, Heiar, and Mihm came in first with a time of 3:57.22.

In the 500 freestyle, the Vikings boasted three spots in the top four, with M. Walker setting a new school record with a time of 5:03.17. The new mark breaks the previous time of 5:08.32 set by Madelynn Marunde back in 2019. Brooke Walker finished in third, followed by Olivia White in fourth. In the A-final of the 200-yard IM, Emily Martin clocked in at fourth with a time of 2:12.93, while Annabella Valenti and Sholl grabbed first and second in the B-final. Mihm and Glasnovich both secured points in the 50-free with top six placements, while Caitlin Stoddard took first in the B final in the same event.

Augustana sat in first on the women's side with 307 points, 111 ahead of second-place Wheaton after Thursday.

On Friday on the men's side, the 800-freestyle relay team of Leslie, Bannister, Cebula, and McCorry won the event by nearly eight seconds with a time of 6:48.17. McCorry, Cebula, Craft and Brandt took second with time of 1:33.65 in the 200-medley relay race, while the team Rettig, Anderson, Cesar Castillo, and Buvary claimed first in the B final with a mark of 1:33.38.

In the 400 IM, Evan Lopez grabbed second place with a time of 4:07.84, while the Vikings grabbed two of the top three spots in the 100 fly as Rettig came in second with a mark of 50.25 and Craft in third clocking a time of 50.29. Augustana also saw two of the top three spots in the 200 freestyle, with Leslie earning second at 1:41.16 and Bannister in third with a time of 1:41.45. The Vikings had a big showing in the 100 breast B final, securing the top four spots. Cebula won the event with a time of 57.82. McCorry was the conference champion in the 100 back, clocking a mark of 51.87, with Rettig following in third. 

The men currently sat in first place with a total of 598 points, 17 ahead of second-place Wheaton.

For the women, the 800-freestyle relay was won by B. Walker, White, Bella Casanovas, and M. Walker with a time of 7:48.82, eight seconds faster than second place. The time is good for a new school record, shattering the old time of 7:51.79 set in 2023. The Vikings also won the B final as Jenna Hale, Sansom, Kylee Blaha, and Martin clocked a time of 8:01.64. Elsewhere in relays, Augustana secured second in the 200-medley A final and first in the B final. Glasnovich, Sholl, Heiar, and Mihm finished the A with a time of 1:47.43, while M. Walker, Logan Alsop, Hale, and Stoddard notched the B final win with a time 1:51.37.

In the 400 IM, Casanovas and Martin finished in fourth and fifth, while M. Walker and White grabbed second and fourth in the 200 freestyle. Heiar won the 100 fly with a time of 58.23, also joined by Annabella Valenti winning the B final with a mark of 1:01.30. Heiar also claimed third in the 100 breaststroke. Glasnovich was the conference champion in the 100 back with a time of 58.24, while Mihm and Blaha finished in second and third in the B final.

The women remained in first place with 600 total points, 155 ahead of second-place Carthage, entering the final day of action.

To begin the final day, Leslie was the CCIW champion in the 1650, winning by nearly five seconds with a mark of 16:02.82 to set a new program record. McCorry also won his second title of the week, taking first in the 200 back with a time of 1:52.69. Dante Rinaldi won the B final in the same event at 1:59.50, the only swimming in the heat below two minutes. Bannister also claimed a title on Saturday, winning the 100 free at 45.35 to set a new school and break the previous mark he set last year. Elsewhere, Craft earned second in the 200 fly, while Augie boasted three of the top eight in the 200 breast. 

The meet on the men's side came down to the final relay. With Augie sitting in third place, the Vikings won both the A and B finals in the 400-yard freestyle. The B team of Brandt, Castillo, Buvary, and Cebula notched a time of 3:08.24 to first win that race before the A team of Leslie, Rettig, and McCorry, and Bannister stormed back in the final 50 yards to clock a time of 3:02.78 to win the event and claim the title for the team. The time is good for a new program record.

The Augie men won their straight title with a score of 843, just four points ahead of second-place Wheaton.

For the women on Saturday, B. Walker began the day with a second-place standing in the 1650 with a time of 17:46.77. In the 200-yard back, M. Walker secured first place with a time of 2:04.83 to set a new program record, while Heiar, B. Walker, and Sholl earned three of the top five spots in the 200-yard breaststroke. Casanovas also grabbed second in the 200 fly.

In the B final of the 400-yard freestyle, Glasnovich, Heiar, Stoddard, and Martin claimed first with a time of 3:39.24.

The Vikings coasted to a first-place finish as a team with a point total of 862.5, over 200 more than second.

M. Walker was awarded the conference's Women's First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year, while Glasnovich earned the Elite 26 Award for the second straight season. Head coach Dan Lloyd was also named the CCIW Coach of the Year for both the men and women. Farhan and Addison Larson were recognized as recipients of the CCIW's RESPECT Award.

In total, 21 Vikings earned All-CCIW accolades.