Aqualopers Set Two More Records, Finish Up Long Week at RMAC's

Swimming 2/15/2026 9:21:00 AM

Aqualopers Set Two More Records, Finish Up Long Week at RMAC's

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney Aqualopers finished seventh at the 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships in Grand Junction, Colo.

The five-day meet was hosted by Colorado Mesa at the El Pomar Natatorium and ran Tues.-Sat. UNK tallied 326 points to finish ahead of Texas Permian Basin and Adams State. CMU (1,870.50) and Colorado School of Mines (1,304.50) finished 1-2. 2026 RMAC Champs Logo

After setting four new school records on Friday, UNK had another on the final day. The 400-free relay team capped the long week by turning in a converted 3:36.69 to best the 3:36.98 set a year ago. The squad consisted of Norfolk senior Maggie Waddington, Kansas freshman Joslynn Grace, Beatrice freshman Jaedyn Baxa and Kearney sophomore Katy Buse.

Next, Waddington almost broke a four-year old record in the 100-free (52.36) by managing a converted 52.86 in prelims and a 52.42 in finals. In the 200-breaststroke finals, Wyoming sophomore Jaesa Whitesell moved up to third all-time with a converted 2:30.41. Colorado freshman Delaney Madnikoff also scored here thanks to a 2:33.92. Finally in the pool, Kansas City freshman Jacey McGraw now ranks seventh all-time in the 200-backstroke (converted 2:13.29) with Baxa also scoring in the event (2:16.48) and Ralston sophomore Josey Fink moved into 10th place in the tough 1,650-free (converted 19:34.14).

UNK's final points came on the 1-meter board as McCook freshman Maryann Kassner put her name on the national list by scoring 394.30 points. Good for fifth place, the "A" standard is 390.0 points. Lincoln sophomore Elizabeth Welsh also tallied some good team points here by tallying a score of 322.45.

The Aqualopers return to action in September.

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Players Mentioned

Katy Buse: Sophomore

Elizabeth Welsh: Sophomore

Josey Fink: Sophomore

Maggie Waddington: Senior

Jaesa Whitesell: Sophomore

Jaedyn Baxa: Freshman

Joslynn Grace: Freshman

Maryann Kassner: Freshman

Delaney Madnikoff: Freshman

Jacey McGraw: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Katy Buse
: Sophomore

Elizabeth Welsh
: Sophomore

Josey Fink
: Sophomore

Maggie Waddington
: Senior

Jaesa Whitesell
: Sophomore

Jaedyn Baxa
: Freshman

Joslynn Grace
: Freshman

Maryann Kassner
: Freshman

Delaney Madnikoff
: Freshman

Jacey McGraw
: Freshman