17cÍøÒ³°æ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) welcomed swimmers from Ave Maria University (AMU) for a meet on Saturday, January 15 at the College’s pool on the Key West Campus. Five swimmers on the 17cÍøÒ³°æ men’s and women’s swim teams competed with 20 swimmers from AMU. While the AMU Gyrenes bested 17cÍøÒ³°æ Tugas in numbers, the home team gave a strong performance in their first dual meet of the season as members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).  

17cÍøÒ³°æ Team captain Ericka Augst dominated in the 200-yard International Medley and 100-yard breaststroke events— winning the races, setting new personal best times, and establishing new school records. Graham Murza placed first in the 100-yard breaststroke and set a new school record. He also came in second in the 200-yard freestyle with a new personal best time, and 100-yard butterfly races. Miranda College also reached a new personal best time in the 500-yard freestyle while Jonathan Schumacher achieved personal best times in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events. 

Earlier this month during a virtual meet with the University of Missouri- St. Louis, Augst and Murza met the time qualifications to compete at the NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, which takes place March 2- 5 in Ft. Pierce. The Tugas will next compete at the Stanton Craigie Memorial Swim Invite, February 4- 6, in Ft. Pierce.