Both the men’s and women’s teams opened with losses at Grand Valley State in Allendale on Friday before bouncing back for wins at Saginaw Valley State in University Center on Saturday.

NMU returns to action at 2 p.m. Saturday at their own PEIF Pool to take on Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

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Lajos Budai puts up double-double

Michaela Nelson

Senior Lajos Budai was a two-time winner in both meets for the Northern men. At Grand Valley, he took the 100-yard backstroke in 50.79 seconds and the 50 freestyle in 21.85, then at SVSU, won the 200 free in 1:45.13 and 100 free in 46.55.

NMU lost to Grand Valley 206-94 and defeated Saginaw Valley 183-99.

At GVSU, freshman Ivan Amillo Escobedo won the 100 free in 46.77.

Three relays also came up winners at SVSU. The NMU 400 free relay won in 3:09.54 with Amillo Escobedo, Maksim Kapustin, freshman Amir Saman Khajegi and Budai; the Wildcats’ 400 medley relay was victorious in 3:27.45 with Budai, freshman Roberto Camera, sophomore Henry Bauer and Amillo Escobedo; and the 200 free relay won in 1:24.40 with Camera, senior Michael Biclawski, Amillo Escobedo and Budai.

Also at Saginaw Valley, junior Ondrej Zach won the 1,000 free in 9:40.43 and 200 butterfly in 2:08.49, while Camera took the 100 breaststroke in 57.93 and 200 breast in 2:08.49. NMU won both diving events as freshman Ryan Leach won the one-meter with 201.45 points and 3-meter with 193.90.

And again at SVSU, Kapustin won the 100 back in 54.40, Amillo Escobedo took the 500 free in 4:49.67, Bauer the 100 fly in 51.95, senior Jonas Reinhold the 400 individual medley in 4:16.00 and sophomore Levi Lewis the 200 back in 2:00.32.

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Michaela

Nelson wins 3 at GVSU

Freshman Michaela Nelson was an NMU star for its women’s team, gaining five wins over two days. At Grand Valley, she won the 50 free in 24.67, 100 free in 53.29 and a third event. At SVSU, she took the 100 free in 53.12 and 200 free in 1:55.79.

Senior Rachel Helm had her usual solid performance, winning four times. Against the Lakers in Allendale, she won the 100 backstroke in 56.93 and 200 back in 2:04.49, then at University Center, she took the 50 free in 24.60 and 200 back in 2:02.01.

NMU lost to GVSU 159-141 and defeated SVSU 189-88.

Wildcats freshman Meritxell Font Cantarero won three events. At GVSU, she took the 200 fly in 2:08.56, then against the Cardinals, she won the 100 fly in 58.54 and 400 IM in 4:41.49.

Seven others also took won for Northern at SVSU. Senior Nicola Pasquire took the 1,000 free in 10:47.54, freshman Maria Arakelian won the 500 free in 5:14.63, freshman Jenna Joerger took the 100 back in 1:00.06, sophomore Briana Arnold won the 100 breast in 1:09.66, junior Gabriella Spajic took the 200 fly in 2:13.16, junior Katharina Springhetti won the 200 breast in 2:24.83 and sophomore Mary Grossman won the 1-meter diving with 265.45 points.

NMU swept both relays at each meet. Against the Lakers, the team of Helm, Arnold, senior Madelyn Irelan and freshman Pilar Perello Ferrer won the 200 medley in 1:47.23, while Nelson, Font Cantero, Perello Ferrer and Helm won the 400 free in 3:34.12. Versus SVSU, Helm, Springhetti, Font Cantero, and Nelson won the 400 medley in 3:53.57, while Nelson, Irelan, freshman Julianna Engesser and Helm won the 200 free in 1:39.06.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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