JACKRABBITS SPLIT AT MINNESOTA TRI-DUAL

Saturday, January 17

Minneapolis, Minn.

11 a.m.

South Dakota State University

185

Minnesota

Luke Watkins Freestyle Action Teaser 2026-02

Photo by: SDSU Athletics

1/17/2026 5:24:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving

Complete Results

MINNEAPOLIS — Four South Dakota State swimmers posted runner-up individual finishes as the Jackrabbits came away with a split Saturday in competition at the Minnesota Tri-Dual contested at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.

Host Minnesota posted the top times and marks in all 13 and swimming and diving events to defeat SDSU, 185-56, while the Jackrabbits notched a 137-106 victory over St. Thomas. The Jackrabbits moved to 4-2 in duals on the season.

Minnesota also tallied a 190.5-51.5 victory over St. Thomas to round out the meet.

Three of the Jackrabbits' second-place showings came in freestyle events, starting with freshman Luke Watkins clocking a season-best time of 9 minutes, 37.62 seconds in the 1,000-yard event. Jack Ellison placed fourth for SDSU in 9:53.21. Ellison later added a fifth-place effort in the 500 freestyle, 4:46.27.

Sophomore Zavier Kranz swam his way to a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle with a time 45.63 seconds. That performance came after a fourth-place effort in the 200 freestyle, 1:42.78, earlier in the meet.

Eric Anderson also turned in a second-place finish in the 50 freestyle, touching the wall in 20.86 seconds, while fellow senior Braxton McGrath took second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 49.82 seconds.

In addition, Cody Vertin notched a pair of top-four performances, placing third in the 200 individual medley (1:52.87) and fourth in the 100 breaststroke (:56.61). David Bosch finished third in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 56.42 seconds to lead the Jackrabbits.

UP NEXT
SDSU continues dual action with a trip Jan. 24 to the University of South Dakota. Start time is set for 1 p.m. at the USD Natatorium in Vermillion.

-GoJacks.com-