ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Concordia-St. Paul swim program opened the 2021-22 season on Friday afternoon with the Northern State Homecoming Tri with NSU and UMary (N.D.) at the Aberdeen YMCA. The Golden Bears totaled six top-three finishes among the roster of seven.

In the season opener, freshman Farida Maher secured Concordia's first-ever event victory by winning the 500 yard freestyle in a time of 5:14.44, edging out UMary's Andrea Lee (5:15.16) by under a second (0.72). Maher also finished second in the 200 yard freestyle (1:58.68) by a half second to Breena Delegge (1:58.18) of UMary.

She was one of three Golden Bears to register a pair of finishes inside the top-three in the meet, where Concordia had 17 individual or relay performances.

In the final tally, Concordia was topped 132-64 by host Northern State and 146-52 by UMary, with UMary sweeping the event with a 119-85 win over Northern State. Those results are in line with the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was announced earlier in the week with UMary picked fifth, Northern State seventh and CSP ninth for the preseason league standings.

Joining Maher with strong upper standings finishes in the season opener were second year freshman Sydney Fleming, who placed second in the 200 yard individual medley (2:19.35) and 100 yard backstroke (1:02.93), coming in just 0.28 seconds behind Northern State's Mia Fursedonne in the backstroke.

First year swimmer Charly Horn's second place finish in the 100 yard freestyle (1:00.23) gives the team four second place finishes on the day, and she added a third place swim in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:14.38) for the Golden Bears.

Concordia returns to competition in two weeks when the squad heads to Mankato, Minnesota to face host Minnesota State along with Southwest Minnesota State on Friday, October 15 for a 5 p.m. event.
 

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TEAM SCORES
University of Mary 119.00, Northern State 85.00
University of Mary 146.00, Concordia-St. Paul 52.00
Northern State 132.00, Concordia-St. Paul 64.00
 

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RELAY RESULTS
4th (6), 200 yard medley relay, 1:59.13
Sydney Fleming (29.51), Charly Horn (33.75), Laura Vekony (30.75), Farida Maher (25.12)

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (listed alphabetically)
Stephanie De Leon
5th (8), 100 yard butterfly, 1:06.76
8th (9), 200 yard individual medley, 2:29.44
8th (9), 100 yard breaststroke, 1:23.33

Sydney Fleming
2nd (9), 200 yard individual medley, 2:19.35
2nd (11), 100 yard backstroke, 1:02.93

Charly Horn
2nd (6), 100 yard freestyle, 1:00.23
3rd (9), 100 yard breaststroke, 1:13.70

Dejah Jackson
8th (9), 50 yard freestyle, 39.06
11th (11), 100 yard backstroke, 1:40.21

Farida Maher
1st (9), 500 yard freestyle, 5:14.44
2nd (8), 200 yard freestyle, 1:58.68

Imani Simmons
6th (6), 100 yard freestyle, 1:11.80
7th (9), 50 yard freestyle, 30.33
9th (9), 100 yard breststroke, 1:42.47

Laura Vekony
5th (6), 1000 yard freestyle, 12:13.82
8th (8), 100 yard butterfly, 1:11.26