Kearney, Neb.  – The Nebraska-Kearney Aqualopers got their 2021-22 season started in earnest by having back-to-back duals this weekend against the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks.

UAF won Friday, 142-63, and then took Saturday's matchup by a similar score, 142-61. UNK heads to Division III Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma, Wash., on Tuesday to finish up this long road trip.

On Friday night, Kansas senior Claire Nash won the 100 freestyle in a time of 56.08 with Lincoln freshman Cori Dolan (59.66) two spots back. Nash was also runner up in the 50 free (25.59) with Lincoln freshman Ava Heasty second in the 200 free (2:06.34). Next, Heasty swam the second leg for the third place 400 medley relay team (4:33.83) with Columbus sophomore Emily Miksch runner up in the 100 breaststroke (1:17.93) and Omaha freshman Madison Kathol second in the 500 free (5:43.42).

The teams swam similar events less than 24 hours later with Nash winning the 100 free again (56.65) and placing second in the 200 free (2:05.42) and third in the 50 free (27.79). She also swam anchor for the third place 200 free relay foursome (1:46.98) that also featured Arizona freshman Tea Oltjenbruns. She was third in the 1,000 free (12:05.09) and runner up in the 200 backstroke (2:24.48). Finally, Dolan was runner up in the 200 breaststroke (2:50.57) with Oltjenbruns part of the third place 200 medley relay squad (2:03.43).