Decorah, IA – The Lakers made the journey over to Luther College Saturday, January 14^th to race in the annual Norse Sprint Invite. The sprint invite hosted seven different teams across the NJCAA, and NCAA Division 3 and Division 2. The programs all come together for this fun annual meet that provides the opportunities to race sprint events like the 50 fly, 50 back, 50 breast, and the 100 IM, events that aren't often available on typical NCAA meet schedules.

The Lakers opened up their first meet in 2023 by picking up 4 individual wins, helping the Men's team earn a 4^th overall finish and the Women's team a 6^th overall finish.

Women's Results –

• Freshman, Gabriela Darakchieva opened the meet up for the Laker women by picking up the Lakers first individual win of the day in the 50 backstroke (28.73). Allison Graff earned at 12th-place finish in the event with a (31.86)
• Sophomore, Moana Wind, followed up her teammates' 1^st place finish by grabbing her own first-place finish the 50 breaststroke (29.99), missing her own school record by 0.25 seconds
• Sophomore Allison Graff placed 16^th in the 50 butterfly (32.75)
• Moana Wind raced her way to a 2^nd place finish in the 100 IM (1:01.16), narrowly missing out on a first-place touch by 0.02

Men's Results –

• Rhys Cheer launched the meet for the Men by placing 5^th overall in his signature event, the 1000 free (11:07.14)
• Eduardo Martiniano raced his signature event, the 200 free, barely missing a 1^st place finish, and earning 2^nd in a time of (1:44.59)
• The Laker Men showed their strength in the breaststroke events with four of them placing in the top 8, Marcelo Rojas led the way with a 3^rd overall finish (26.73), Andres Santana finished 4^th (27.95), Eduardo Sarmiento picked up 7^th (28.78), and Erik Graff placed 8^th (28.85).
• Patrick Voller represented the sprinters in the 50 freestyle and raced his way to an 8^th overall finish (23.16)
• Eduardo Martiniano picked up a 1^st place finish in the 100 freestyle, edging out his opponents with a 47.55
• The breaststroke group had a good showing the 100 breaststroke with Marcelo Rojas placing 2^nd overall (58.61) and Andres Santana placing 4^th (1:02.28).
• Eduardo Martiniano followed his 1^st place finish in the 100 free up by grabbing another 1^st place finish, this time in the 50 butterfly (23.32).
• Marcelo Rojas and Eduardo Sarmiento represented the IM group in the exciting and very quick 100 IM, Marcelo earned 3^rd overall (53.59) and Eduardo picked up an 8^th place finish (58.10)
• The Laker Men ended the meet by placing 5^th overall in the 4x50 free relay with an overall time of 1:32.79 swam by Eduardo Martiniano, Rhys Cheer, Erik Graff, and Eduardo Sarmiento

Next Up -

The Lakers next compete at Home on January 21^st where they will host Iowa Central