Lake Superior State head coach Tim O'Neill keeps track of all of the Lakers swimming and diving records. For a program in its second season, tracking the best performances in each event would generally show a line with an upward curve, indicating progress from the inaugural campaign.

But for Lake State, there's no gentle slope rolling upward. The progress line is vertical - straight up.

This year's men's and women's teams now own every single best time in school history - and they haven't even reached championship season yet. 

"I'm ecstatic to have it done in 2025 before we even hit championship season," said O'Neill. "It's showing what our program can be. I came here to develop and build swimmers to be better. They're buying in. It's happening."

The Lakers sent Fedor Mironov and Andrea Ayuso Mendez to the Shark Invitational at Nova Southeastern this week to compete in one of the best fields in NCAA Division II. Mironov, racing against full internationals, won the 100 Yard Freestyle race by tying Nova Southeastern's Gavin Lindley. He beat Lynn University's Maurice Grabowski, who broke the NCAA Division II 100 Yard Individual Medley record during the weekend, surging past him with tremendous resolve in the back half of the race. The time won the race, stamped Mironov's personal best in the event and marked the second time this season that Mironov has hit the NCAA "B" qualification in the event.

"This is his best time by almost a full second," said O'Neill. "It's putting him in contention to be in the top of the GLIAC and the top of the country in Division II."

He pointed out that Grabowski also competes at the international level for Germany. "It shows we can compete against anybody if we do the stuff we need to do correctly. We are poised to make a noise in our conference, and the way to do that is at the national level. Exposing our team to meets like this, and to have them do well, is a huge confidence booster. It also shows everyone that we're improving. And it's not a fluke."

Mironov also finished third in the 50 Yard Freestyle, with a time of 20.13, rounding out his stellar weekend.

Andrea Ayuso Mendez swam for the Lakers at the Shark Invitational as well, posting times of 4:42.95 in the 400 Yard Individual Medley and 2:20.59 in the 200 Yard Butterfly. The first-year swimmer now holds every women's team record at LSSU.

"Andrea's had a great year," O'Neill said. "Her focus on her long-term growth throughout her career at Lake State allows me to be a better coach. We're really focused, not only doing well at a single meet with her, but on her development throughout her four years."

The Lakers next compete at Saginaw Valley State on January 9th, with another chance to keep driving the program upward. They'll also compete at Northern Michigan later in January before competing in the GLIAC Championships in February.