Laker swimmers continued their history-making 2025-26 season at the GLIAC Championships, which ran from February 6th through February 9th. With new school records, program-best finishes and the potential for nationals still on the line for one swimmer, the Lakers raised the bar for the program at the conference championships.

"I think they did great," said Head Coach Tim O'Neill about the men's and women's teams. "We definitely showed that we belong within the conference and are competitive."

Fedor Mironov earned the first conference medal in LSSU history, finishing third in the 100 Yard Butterfly race with a time of 47.44, a new school record in the event. The sophomore is still eligible to go to Nationals, having met the NCAA Division II B Standard time in this event and the 100 Yard Freestyle race, though that will depend on times posted at conference championships around the country. He's currently 16th in Division II in the 100 Yard Freestyle.

Mironov wasn't the only swimmer who stood out. Andrea Ayuso Mendez scored the first points at the GLIAC Championships for the women's team in LSSU history, placing in the 200 Yard Backstroke with a time of 2:12.18 and the 500 Yard Freestyle in 5:17.48. She also set program records in the 50 Yard Freestyle and the 200 Yard Individual Medley.

O'Neill hailed the performances, saying that "the whole team was able to be resilient throughout the competition."

Laker swimmers set 11 new school records at the GLIAC Championships. Dimitrij Mijailovic broke the program-best marks in the 100 Yard Breaststroke (58.48) and 200 Yard Breaststroke (2:09.39). Hudson VanOstenberg broke the school record for the 200 Yard Backstroke at 2:04.62. Mironov also set a school record in the 200 Yard Freestyle.

LSSU's men's team set records in the 200 Yard Medley Relay, 200 Yard Freestyle, 400 Yard Freestyle and 800 Yard Freestyle relay races as well.

O'Neill said, "It was a really big team effort, everyone dropping a lot of time within those relays. They got to thrive in the moment of the competitive atmosphere, final swims, and swimming for your team."

He added, "I think that the way we're able to handle this season is only going to embolden everyone to do really well next year."

The Laker men's team improved its points total from 16 last year to 139.5 in the second year of competition. The success has made its mark on the men's and women's teams, encouraging their drive to future successes.

"There's a great energy towards the future," said O'Neill. "Some of the swimmers are saying, 'Next year is my year.' I think this was a great chance for the team to come together. We're looking forward to the future."

The Lakers have much to look forward to as the team continues building for the years ahead, as shown by the massive improvements throughout the year that culminated with the GLIAC Championships. With Mironov still eligible for the national competition and a "last chance" meet at Northern Michigan a few weeks away to provide an extra attempt at qualification, there's still plenty to look forward to in the short-term for LSSU. Long-term, it's clear that the sky's the limit for this team as it builds into a force in the GLIAC.