For the first time in program history, both the men’s and women’s swim teams won the CCIW conference title in the same season. The men’s team has now won their second straight CCIW title, while the women’s team has won their second in the last three seasons.
Sophomore Tyler Leslie helped set four new school records, including the record mark in the 200-yard freestyle, the 1650-yard freestyle, the 400-yard freestyle relay, and the 400-medley relay.
“Being on record-setting relays transcends breaking individual records because so many little things can go wrong in relays, and everyone has to swim a perfect race,” Leslie said. “Still, it is surreal when you look at the board and see a record-setting time with your teammates.”
On the women’s side, First-Year Mara Walker helped set new marks by also breaking four school records, including the record time in the 200-yard freestyle, the 500-yard freestyle, the 800-freestyle relay and the 200-yard backstroke.
“It’s an awesome accomplishment to break those records,” Head Coach Dan Lloyd said. “It is a testament to everything that went into this, the people that were before them, the ones that set the leadership, the standards that alumni set. It says a lot about your legacy on your program.”
Coming off of their first CCIW title since 1982, members of the men’s team were ready to continue their success for this season. Junior Holden Siena was one swimmer who felt this energy from last year.
“There was a lot of excitement to start,” Siena said. “Last year, we won our first conference title since 1982, so we were just excited to see how we came back after that.”
Last season, the women’s team placed second in the CCIW championships after winning the CCIW title in 2022. Senior Kaite Zaborenko, a diver on the women’s team, was ready to reclaim their title.
“I think it was kind of like our self-reflecting moment,” Zaborenko said. “We know we could do better since we got first two years ago. I was excited for the new teammates that were coming.”
Both the men’s and the women’s teams started hot by winning the first big invitational, the Illinois Wesleyan Invite. This season is the second straight season where both teams won the invite, which provided a good test for Lloyd to see where both teams were.
“It’s a good check-in to see where we’re at,” Lloyd said. “We’ve trained hard, and it was a good stepping stone to where we want to be.”
Even with the success of both teams throughout the season, the CCIW championship was the real challenge. For Walker, the First-Year who broke several school records for the women’s team, this was her first CCIW championship meet, and she was ready to compete.
“We’ve been preparing all season for this and to hopefully get a win at the end of the season,” Walker said before the meet. “I think it’ll be an exciting atmosphere because we are getting to compete in what we’ve been working for all season.”
The championships started on Wednesday, Feb. 21, with the diving events. Zaborenko, sophomore Kate Kucera and junior Anna Sanjose all earned All-Conference. Zaborenko was the women’s three-meter dive champion, while Kucera finished third in the same dive. In the one-meter dive, Sanjose finished second place.
“I’m just so happy and so proud of them. Kucera barely had practice during the entire season because she was injured most of the time, but she still competed,” Zaborenko said. “Sanjose just diving for her first season and still placing second and beating her PR was just an overwhelming feeling.”
Lloyd was named Head Coach of the Year for men’s and women’s teams, making it the second straight year he has been the men’s coach of the year.
“I’m humbled and deeply honored by it, but it’s because of these kids. It’s because of this team. I am blessed with great people,” Lloyd said.
Among other achievements, Walker was awarded the CCIW Women’s First Year Student-Athlete of the Year, while junior Hailey Glasnovich won the Elite 26 Award for the second straight year. In total, 21 Augustana athletes earned All-Conference accolades.
“It’s a people business, and it says they’re the ones that do the hard work. I am extremely blessed that all these kids have come here and bought into and believe in our system,” Lloyd said.
