Click here to listen to Head Coach Samantha Nelson Preview the National Tournament
The Lakers will make their way to Fort Pierce, Florida on Sunday to compete at the 2024 NJCAA Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships, which take place March 6th - 9th. The Lakers are going into Nationals with 8 qualifying athletes, 2 women and 6 men. There are many exciting things happening for both the Men's and Women's teams.
Starting out with the women's team, Madison Otto (SO) will be competing in her first National Championship in both the 200m Freestyle and the 500m Freestyle. Rylee Valentine (SO) will be competing in the 200m Backstroke, where she is ranked 20th and has set her sights on qualifying for the finals. Valentine has also qualified for the 50m Free, 100m IM and the 50m Backstroke.
For the men's team, Brady Noel (SO) takes on 2 distance races, both the 500m Free as well as the 1650m Free, where he is ranked 20th. Our rookie swimmer Caleb Hodge (FR) has qualified in both the 50m Free and the 100m Free, this is his first-year swimming. Luis Ramirez-Armas (FR) will be taking on the 500m Free, 50m Fly, 100m Fly, and the 50m Free. Caleb Rubitschung (SO) navigates both the 50m and 100m Breaststroke, along with the 100m and 200m Freestyle. Joao Rodrigues (FR) will make his way through the 50m Free, 100m Free, 50m Fly and the 100m IM. Pedro Brandao (FR) has his sights set on making it into the finals in both the 100m Breaststroke and 200m Breaststroke, where he is ranked 8th in both. Brandao is also ranked 15th in the 1000m Free and will also take on the 100m IM. The Laker's medley relay team made up of Caleb Rubitschung (SO), Pedro Brandao (FR), Joao Rodrigues (FR), and Caleb Hodge (FR), is ranked 7th and is excited to take on the competition! This will be a long but exciting week for the Laker Swim team!
Head Coach Samantha Nelson stated "I am very excited to be bringing the entire team to nationals this season. Everyone has worked so hard and to see it all paying off is a reward in itself. I am excited to see how everything ends up and I hope to be bringing some medals home!"
PHOTO: Photo of Iowa Lakes Swim team attached.
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Men's & Women's Swim Coach at (712) 852-5209 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.