Great Weekend for Aqua Cats

PULASKI, TENN. - On Saturday, November 11, 2023, the Bethel University Men's and Women's Swim Teams traveled to Pulaski, Tennessee, where they competed in a dual meet with UT Southern. Both men and women had outstanding performances across multiple events.

On the men’s side, Akram Nejjar took 1st in the 800 and 400 Meter Freestyle (swimming his personal best in both events), Eric Edwards was 1st in the 100 Meter Breaststroke and 200 Meter IM, Jakub Loboda finished 1st in the 50 Meter Freestyle and 100 Meter Fly, Artem Dzun took 2nd in the 50-Meter Freestyle and 100 Meter Fly, Martin Sener was 1st in the 100 Meter Backstroke, 2nd in the 200 Meter Backstroke, and 3rd in the 50 Meter Freestyle, and Adam Peeden finished 2nd in the 100 Meter Freestyle and 6th in the 50 Meter Freestyle.  The men’s relay teams finished first in both the 200 Meter Medley (Sener, Edwards, Dzun, and Loboda), and in the 400 Meter Freestyle Relay (Dzun, Nejjar, Peeden, and Loboda).

 The women also had strong performances with Fanni Kovacs taking 1st in the 100- and 200-Meter Breaststroke, Clara Bjorkegren was 1st in the 50 and 100 Meter Freestyle, and Sofia Nascimento Tricoli finished 1st in the 200 Meter Backstroke and 400 Meter Freestyle, and 2nd in the 50 Meter Freestyle.

Coach Kirsten Sass said, “This meet was a great opportunity for the teams to race in some different events and was a perfect sharpening event leading up to the next big meet which is the Igloo Invitational in Sewanee November 17-18.  I was proud of how the team stretched themselves by participating in different events, and it was exciting for the Men’s Team to finish with the top score for the meet. 

Men:

Artem Dzun: 50 Meter Free - 2nd (25.77), 100 Meter Fly - 2nd (59.89)

Eric Edwards: 100 Meter Breast - 1st (1:10.52), 200 Meter IM (2:23.70)

Jakub Loboda:  100 Meter Fly - 1st (57.65), 50 Meter Free - 1st (24.27)

Akram Nejjar:  800 Meter Free - 1st (8:57.23), 400 Meter Free - 1st (4:19.86)

Martin Sener:  100 Meter Back - 1st (1:03.41), 200 Meter Back - 2nd (2:25.42)

Adam Peeden:  50 Meter Free - 6th (27.99), 100 Meter Free - 2nd (1:03.30)

Women:

Clara Bjorkegren:  50 Meter Free - 1st (30.73), 100 Meter Free - 1st (1:04.46)

Fanni Kovacs: 100 Meter Breast - 1st (1:24.59), 200 Meter Breast - 1st (3:00.18)

Sofia Nascimento Tricoli:  50 Meter Free - 2nd (33.41), 200 Meter Back - 1st (2:41.10), 400 Meter Free -

1st (5:11.09)

Men 200 Meter Medley Relay (Sener, Edwards, Dzun, Loboda) - 1st (1:51.29)

Men 400 Meter Free Relay (Dzun, Nejjar, Peeden, Loboda) - 1st (3:48.86)

Final Team Scores:

Men:

Bethel University - 104

UT Southern - 95

Women:

UT Southern - 102

Bethel University - 58