Following an outstanding season from the men’s and women’s programs, the Vikings’ swimming and diving program was able to add a few more accomplishments to its season as junior Tyler Leslie walked away with an All-American finish at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Augustana also saw eight athletes named to the Academic All-District team, four from both the men’s and women’s programs.
A few weeks ago, Leslie was able to become the first swim and dive athlete in five years to compete at nationals and is now the first men’s athlete since Tom Hancock in the 1985-1986 season to claim a spot as an All-American. He’s also the first individual swim and dive athlete overall to earn that honor since Julie Konchan Dobnikar in the 1989-1990 season.
The road was far from smooth for Leslie, as he battled injuries throughout the season. Despite those injuries, Leslie persevered when it would have been easy to chalk this up to a lost season. Director of swimming and diving Dan Lloyd spoke very highly of Leslie’s dedication and how it led him to reach his goals.
“I don’t think people realize how difficult it is to qualify for nationals at the Division-III level,” Lloyd said. “It’s a feat to even do that, so going on to become an All-American is a completely different echelon. It’s really a testament to the fact that he is a very focused and devoted swimmer. What he’s been able to do, even with his injuries, is truly incredible, and it’s in large part a testament to his mental focus.”
That mentality is present not only in Leslie but also in the swimming and diving program as a whole. With eight Academic All-District selections, it’s no surprise to see a strong culture growing even stronger as these student-athletes set an example for each class to follow.
Of those student-athletes who earned that academic honor, senior captain Kacper Cebula knows something about how that strong culture can lead to success. In his four years at Augustana, he has been a part of three straight CCIW titles for the men’s program, all of which he heavily credits to the bond formed between him and his teammates.
“I would say that there is definitely a culture around striving for success as a student first and an athlete second,” Cebula said. “I know that we all have a strong team culture and a tight bond together, and it’s partially because coach [Lloyd] is always reminding us that we’re here to not only support you as an athlete, but as a student as well. I believe that coach Lloyd made that culture significant for us, and the captains have shown that it’s doable to balance both and still be successful.”
It’s with that culture that Leslie thrived, reaching a height not reached in decades and giving himself an opportunity to make it back to the mountaintop. He knows this is far easier said than done, but he has already done it nonetheless.
“I can get back to the same place,” Leslie said. “I’m going to have to put in a lot of effort to keep my body healthy and not get injured again, but I know that I can do that. With the support I have, especially from my parents, I know I can push myself to be the best that I can be. I’m really looking forward to next year, stepping into a new role and setting a good example for the younger classes.”
