Three More Records Fall in Western Colorado

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney Aqualopers set more three more school records at the 2025 RMAC Championships Friday in Grand Junction, Colo.

The five-day meet began Tuesday and concludes Saturday evening. UNK had scored 345 points to remain in seventh place and just behind Colorado State-Pueblo (356). Colorado Mesa has nearly a 625-point lead over second-place Simon Fraser (Canda).

Junior Maggie Waddington (Norfolk), already with two new marks at this meet, now has four after efforts in the 100-backstroke and as anchor of the 200-free relay team. She broke her own mark in the backstroke (59.34), set back in December, during morning prelims (altitude converted 58.69) and then topped that with a converted 57.85 to place ninth in finals. Kansas junior Gabby Grace also reached the event finals (16th/converted 1:00.28).

To close the night, Grace swam first with Waddington the speedy anchor for the 200-FR squad that finished seventh (1:38.02). That bests the 1:38.46 UNK managed at this meet two years ago with Waddington the anchor then as well. Freshman Kayla Milligan (Valley Center, Kan.) and senior Makayla Seal (Midwest City, Okla.) were the middle legs this time.

Next, Milligan vaulted up to seventh in the 200-butterfly annuals during prelims (converted 2:19.68) and then bested that by five places thanks to a converted 2:16.50 in the evening finals. Karley Bennett (2:15.67/Feb. 2022) is the only Aqualoper have had a better time.

In the two other individual events, Tekamah freshman Gabriella Roche led the team in the 100-breaststroke (prelims converted 1:10.88) and was one of three in the finals with Omaha freshman Josey Fink managing a converted 5:41.26 in the 500-free. Finally, UNK garnered 49 team points in diving by placing eighth through 10th on the 3-meter board. Springfield freshman Elizabeth Welsh paced the trio with 306.20 points.

Action resumes Saturday morning.

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Players Mentioned

Karley Bennett: Senior

Gabby Grace: Junior

Makayla Seal: Senior

Maggie Waddington: Junior

Josey Fink: Freshman

Kayla Milligan: Freshman

Gabriella Roche: Freshman

Elizabeth Welsh: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Karley Bennett
: Senior

Gabby Grace
: Junior

Makayla Seal
: Senior

Maggie Waddington
: Junior

Josey Fink
: Freshman

Kayla Milligan
: Freshman

Gabriella Roche
: Freshman

Elizabeth Welsh
: Freshman