The Valpo men's and women's swimming teams lifted the lid on the 2024-25 season on Saturday afternoon with a dual meet at Cleveland State.
 
How It Happened

• Three Beacons posted second-place finishes in individual events against the Vikings. On the men's side, junior Anthony Martin (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) touched the wall second in the 200 fly with a time of 1:56.57.
• Two Valpo women posted runner-up finishes as well — sophomore Kailyn Benoit (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) with a time of 2:16.89 in the 200 fly, and senior Sara Strauss (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake) with a time of 2:30.11 in the 200 breast.
• Benoit's finish in the 200 fly was one of two events she paced the Beacons in, as she also posted a team-best time of 1:04.67 in the 100 fly.
• Sophomore Sophie Schoch (Medina, Ohio/Medina) led the Valpo women in the 100 back (1:01.31) and the 200 back (2:12.43), while freshman Ally Unruh (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) made her collegiate debut by leading the Beacons in the 1000 free (10:59.73) and the 500 free (5:24.52).
• On the men's side, junior Jackson Oostman (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) led the way for Valpo in a trio of events — the 100 back (52.88), the 200 back (1:58.59) and the 200 IM (1:59.23).
• Senior Brendan Stangeland (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) touched the wall first for the Beacons in the 100 breast (59.99) and the 200 breast (2:12.99), while freshman Carson Parker (Silver Lake, Ind./Tippecanoe Valley) made his collegiate debut with team-best times in the 50 free (22.22) and the 100 free (49.32).
• CSU won the team scoring, 238-54 on the women's side and 240-54 on the men's side.

 
Next Up
Valpo will host its annual Alumni Meet as part of Homecoming Weekend Saturday, Oct. 5 at 8 a.m. in the ARC Pool. The Beacons' next intercollegiate action comes with a dual meet at Southern Indiana Oct. 10.