HOLLAND, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University swimming and diving program competed at the Grand Valley State University Quad Meet on Friday and Saturday, taking on host Grand Valley, Hope College, and McKendree University at the Holland Aquatic Center. The Cardinals placed third overall with 755 combined points, as the women finished third with 316 and the men took third with 439.

SVSU saw several standout performances and personal-best marks across the two-day event. Lexi Hieber (Wixom, Mich. / Walled Lake Western HS) earned a win in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:19.75). Samantha Fowler (Wellington, New Zealand / St. Hildas School) claimed runner-up in the 400-yard individual medley (4:29.22) and added an eighth-place finish in the 100 free (53.19). On the men's side, Alvaro Rodriguez (Guadalajara, Mexico) led the way with a second-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly (1:49.09) and a third in the 100 fly (48.61).

Other notable swims included A'lmos Szedlak (Pomaz, Hungary / Stamina TK) finishing third in the 400 IM (4:07.37) and contributing to SVSU's 400-yard freestyle relay that took fifth in 3:03.27. Hadyn Gould (Adrian, Mich.) and Lyon Hall (McFarland, Wis.) both posted strong results—Gould won the 100 backstroke (49.29) and placed third in the 200 backstroke (1:52.62), while Hall earned a fourth-place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:40.68) and anchored the relay team.

On the women's side, Nina Pavlovic Cano (Stockholm, Sweden) placed fourth in the 100 butterfly (58.12) and sixth in the 200 fly (2:13.83). Mya Ketel and Kaylene Darbee (Bay City, Mich. / John Glenn HS) continued to contribute in the breaststroke events, with Ketel placing sixth in the 200 breast (2:26.06) and Darbee earning 12th in the same event (2:30.73).

In diving, Rory Kauffman (DeWitt, Mich. / DeWitt HS) took second in the 3-meter dive (294.40). On the women's side, Layla Winklepleck earned a ninth-place finish on the 3-meter board (213.75).

SVSU also performed well in relays, as the women's 400-yard freestyle relay team of Carolina Bononi Heinz, Hieber, Fowler, and Roni Markwood (New Baltimore, Mich. / Anchor Bay HS) finished third in 3:31.22.

Up Next: Saginaw Valley swimming and diving continues its season next Saturday, October 18, as they head to Grand Rapids, Michigan to compete against Calvin and Grand Valley.