Storm set another relay record to close Liberal Arts

DECORAH, Iowa -- Noah Nelson earned a second, top-three finish and helped the 400 freestyle relay break a school record to highlight the Simpson men's swimming and diving team's final day at the Liberal Arts Championships.

Simpson placed eighth with 188 points. The Storm set six school records over the four-day competition and took home three, All-Iowa Conference performances.

Nelson set new marks in the 500 freestyle and the 400 IM, Nick Keller broke the school record in the 100 backstroke and the Storm set records in the 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. Nelson earned All-IIAC honors in the 200 breaststroke and 400 IM and Keller took home the honor in the 100 backstroke.

Saturday Highlights
• In the final race of the weekend, Nelson, Keller, Noah Bruns and Ryan Gaumer -- all freshmen -- broke the school record in the 400 freestyle relay by finishing in 3:19.31, good for seventh place. The old mark of 3:21.96 was set last season.
• Nelson matched his best finish of the weekend with a third-place effort in the 200 breaststroke. Although he finished a half-second off his season-best, Nelson earned All-Iowa Conference honors by taking second-place among IIAC competitors.
• Sam Law and Blake Kakacek brought home 14th-place efforts in the 1650 freestyle and the 200 backstroke, respectively. Law swam the 1650 free in 18:31.17 and Kakacek set a season-best with a 2:19.32 in the 200 backstroke.

Meet Report
100 freestyle — 16. Nick Keller, 49.83; 23. Noah Bruns, 51.18
1650 freestyle — 14. Sam Law, 18:31.17
200 backstroke — 14. Blake Kakacek, 2:19.32 (SB)
200 breaststroke — 3. Noah Nelson, 2:09.56 (2nd IIAC); 23. Austin Andes, 2:34.57 (SB)
400 freestyle relay — 7. Noah Bruns, Ryan Gaumer, Noah Nelson, Nick Keller, 3:19.31 (SR)

Team Rankings
1. Franklin, 811
2. Nebraska Wesleyan, 563.5
3. Illinois Tech, 534
4. Loras, 355
5. Coe, 287
6. Luther, 279
7. Morningside, 268.5
8. Simpson, 188
9. Principia, 82