BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Northern Michigan University freshman Lajos Budai swam to an All-American finish in the men’s 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving National Championships on Wednesday.

Budai, the GLIAC Swimmer of the Year and Freshman of the Year, placed seventh in the championship finals with a time of 19.95 seconds during the first day of the four-day event.

On Thursday, he added a ninth-place finish in the 200 free consolation finals in 1:37.90.

On Wednesday, Wildcats women’s team member Rachel Helm, also a GLIAC Freshman of the Year, raced to an 11th-place finish in the 200 individual medley consolation finals in 2:02.51.

Ryan Knox-Leonard clocked 1:48.30 to take 14th in the men’s 200 IM consolation finals.