Upcoming Event: Men's Swimming and Diving versus Yellow and Blue Intrasquad on September 26, 2025 at 3 p.m.
/
3 p.m.
Men's Swimming and Diving
vs Yellow and Blue Intrasquad
South Dakota State University Athletics
Photo by: SDSU Athletics
McGRATH, VERTIN SET RECORDS IN ST. PAUL
11/22/2024 10:30:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Braxton McGrath and Cody Vertin each set South Dakota State records en route to winning event titles Friday on Day 2 of men's swimming and diving action at the Tommie Invitational at the Anderson Athletics and Recreation Complex Pool.
A junior from Amana, Iowa, McGrath broke his own record in the 100-yard butterfly on two occasions Friday. In the morning prelims, he clocked a then-record time of 48.51 seconds to lower his own standard by .07 seconds. During the evening finals, McGrath trimmed another .36 seconds off his earlier mark for a winning time of 48.15 seconds.
Vertin, a sophomore from Brookings, turned in his record-setting performance in the 400 individual medley during the morning preliminaries with a top time of 3 minutes, 57.01 seconds. He fell slightly off that pace during Friday night's final, but still managed to win the event in 3:57.40.
Teammate Jack Ellison, who previously set the 400 IM record last season (3:57.89), was a close second in the finals with a personal-best time of 3:57.55, while Kolden Kringen completed a Jackrabbit sweep of the top three spots with a time of 4:01.13. Bryan Wong added an eighth-place time of 4:07.78.
Also winning an individual event title for the Jackrabbits on Friday was senior Sam Johnson in his signature event, the 200 freestyle. A senior from Sioux Falls, Johnson touched the wall first in a time of 1:38.55, with Jon Galles placing third for SDSU in 1:49.95 and Zavier Kranz taking eighth in 1:41.54.
Johnson later anchored the Jackrabbits' victory in the 800 freestyle relay, teaming with Denilson Cyprianos, Galles and Kringen for a time of 6:41.07. SDSU's B relay team of Austin Smith, McGrath, Ellison and Kranz posted the second-fastest time in the event at 6:43.86.
Cyprianos was half of a Jackrabbit tandem with Aiden Carstensen that competed in the finals of the 100 backstroke Friday night. Cyprianos placed third in 48.90 seconds, followed by Carstensen in fourth in 49.05 seconds.
Smith also placed seventh individually in the 100 butterfly, 49.14 seconds, while freshman David Bosch added an eight-place finish in the 100 breaststroke, 56.91 seconds.
SDSU opened the evening session with a runner-up finish in the 200 medley relay as the quartet of Carstensen, Smith, McGrath and Johnson combined for a time of 1:30.08.
The Jackrabbits solidified their hold on second place in the team standings on Friday. South Dakota continues to lead the four-team field with 1,172 points, followed by SDSU with 884 points and host St. Thomas in third place with 675 points. Green Bay trails the three Summit League squads with 573 points.
Competition at the Tommies Invitational concludes Saturday. Prelims begin at 10 a.m., with event finals at 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY EVENT WINNERS
200 Medley Relay: South Dakota (Fisher, Berdahl, Crlson, Rounds), 1:27.23
100 Butterfly: Braxton McGrath, SDSU, :48.15 [school record]
400 Individual Medley: Cody Vertin, SDSU, :3:57.40
200 Freestyle: Sam Johnson, SDSU, 1:38.55
100 Breaststroke: Jack Berdahl, South Dakota, :54.36
100 Backstroke: Joaquin Contreras-Fallico, South Dakota, :48.35
800 Freestyle Relay: SDSU (Cyprianos, Galles, Kringen, Johnson), 6:41.07
TEAM SCORES
A junior from Amana, Iowa, McGrath broke his own record in the 100-yard butterfly on two occasions Friday. In the morning prelims, he clocked a then-record time of 48.51 seconds to lower his own standard by .07 seconds. During the evening finals, McGrath trimmed another .36 seconds off his earlier mark for a winning time of 48.15 seconds.
Vertin, a sophomore from Brookings, turned in his record-setting performance in the 400 individual medley during the morning preliminaries with a top time of 3 minutes, 57.01 seconds. He fell slightly off that pace during Friday night's final, but still managed to win the event in 3:57.40.
Teammate Jack Ellison, who previously set the 400 IM record last season (3:57.89), was a close second in the finals with a personal-best time of 3:57.55, while Kolden Kringen completed a Jackrabbit sweep of the top three spots with a time of 4:01.13. Bryan Wong added an eighth-place time of 4:07.78.
Also winning an individual event title for the Jackrabbits on Friday was senior Sam Johnson in his signature event, the 200 freestyle. A senior from Sioux Falls, Johnson touched the wall first in a time of 1:38.55, with Jon Galles placing third for SDSU in 1:49.95 and Zavier Kranz taking eighth in 1:41.54.
Johnson later anchored the Jackrabbits' victory in the 800 freestyle relay, teaming with Denilson Cyprianos, Galles and Kringen for a time of 6:41.07. SDSU's B relay team of Austin Smith, McGrath, Ellison and Kranz posted the second-fastest time in the event at 6:43.86.
Cyprianos was half of a Jackrabbit tandem with Aiden Carstensen that competed in the finals of the 100 backstroke Friday night. Cyprianos placed third in 48.90 seconds, followed by Carstensen in fourth in 49.05 seconds.
Smith also placed seventh individually in the 100 butterfly, 49.14 seconds, while freshman David Bosch added an eight-place finish in the 100 breaststroke, 56.91 seconds.
SDSU opened the evening session with a runner-up finish in the 200 medley relay as the quartet of Carstensen, Smith, McGrath and Johnson combined for a time of 1:30.08.
The Jackrabbits solidified their hold on second place in the team standings on Friday. South Dakota continues to lead the four-team field with 1,172 points, followed by SDSU with 884 points and host St. Thomas in third place with 675 points. Green Bay trails the three Summit League squads with 573 points.
Competition at the Tommies Invitational concludes Saturday. Prelims begin at 10 a.m., with event finals at 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY EVENT WINNERS
200 Medley Relay: South Dakota (Fisher, Berdahl, Crlson, Rounds), 1:27.23
100 Butterfly: Braxton McGrath, SDSU, :48.15 [school record]
400 Individual Medley: Cody Vertin, SDSU, :3:57.40
200 Freestyle: Sam Johnson, SDSU, 1:38.55
100 Breaststroke: Jack Berdahl, South Dakota, :54.36
100 Backstroke: Joaquin Contreras-Fallico, South Dakota, :48.35
800 Freestyle Relay: SDSU (Cyprianos, Galles, Kringen, Johnson), 6:41.07
TEAM SCORES
- South Dakota – 1,172
- South Dakota State – 884
- St. Thomas – 675
- Green Bay – 573
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
FREE, BR
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
BACK
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
BACK
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
FREE
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
FREE
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
FREE
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
FR
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
FREE, IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
FLY
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
BACK, IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
BR, IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
FLY, IM
/ Men's Swimming and DivingDan Georgalas Postgame Comments vs Boise State (09.20.2025)
Saturday, September 20
Volleyball Highlights vs Boise State (09.20.2025)
Saturday, September 20
Volleyball Postgame Comments vs Boise State (09.19.2025)
Saturday, September 20
Volleyball Highlights vs Boise State (09.19.2025)
Saturday, September 20