Norman, Okla.— Spire swimming kick-off their 2026-27 season in the pool in Oklahoma at the annual Sam Freas Invite in Norman.

The USM staff had only positive things to say about their squads opening day. Head coach David Bresser was thoroughly impressed with the grit his new swimmers performed with in their first collegiate meet. The Sam Freas Invite is a notably tough meet with outstanding DII competition throughout—an excellent way to get the season started for a Spire swim team with a rich history of success.

Coach Bresser and company liked what they saw in initial performances from Nolan Quinn, Gavin Lucas, Evan England, Adyson Wiens, and Valdis Thorsteinsdottir and are eager to see how these swimmers grow and compete at the upcoming Sunflower Showdown.

While the entire men's and women's team left it all in the pool on opening day, but a few highlights came from the upperclassmen. Junior Taya Swarts achieved two NAIA B-Cuts in the 50 Free and 100 Free events and teammates Ava Steier (Jr.) and Ian Lucas (Sr.) posted strong early season swims in the 200 and 500 Free and the 50 Free and 100 IM, respectively.

Spire swimming will take a much shorter trip on Friday, October 2^nd at the Sunflower Showdown in Topeka, Kansas (Cap Fed Natatorium). Races are set to begin at 2 p.m.
 
 
Women's 200-Yard Medley Relay:
11^th: Hara del Castillo, Reagan Salsbury, Maria Trotta, Taya Swarts (1:58.40)
 
Men's 200-Yard Medley Relay:
14^th: Silas Kirchoff, Ayden McFarren, Evan England, Nolan Quinn (1:46.28)
 
Women's 200-Yard Freestyle:
14^th: Ava Steier (2:07.36)
27^th: Adelia Schupbach (2:19.82)
 
Men's 200-Yard Freestyle:
19^th: Evan England (1:53.82)
21^st: Nathan Troth (1:54.53)
22^nd: Nolan Quinn (1:54.57)
23^rd: Mar Thorsteinsson (2:00.30)
26^th: Domanick Ragan (2:26.79)
 
Women's 100-Yard Backstroke:
14^th: Hara del Castillo (1:09.43)
16^th: Mandy Butscher (1:10.17)
18^th: Taylor Grader (1:10.62)
20^th: Kaitie Coleman (1:12.06)
22^nd: Rylee Randle (1:12.74)
23^rd: Lucy Graham (1:14.27)
 
Men's 100-Yard Backstroke:
8^th: Gavin Lucas (56.61)
11^th: Teagan Dougherty (1:00.23)
12^th: Silas Kirchoff (1:00.33)
 
Women's 100-Yard Breaststroke:
9^th: Reagan Salsbury (1:11.33)
12^th: Valdis Thorsteinsdottir (1:13.01)
13^th: Ainsley Duell (1:13.22)
23^rd: Sofia Perdomo (1:23.29)
 
Men's 100-Yard Breaststroke:
13^th: John Paul Robertson (1:06.24)
14^th: Ayden McFarren (1:06.63)
15^th: Nicholas Allison (1:06.83)
17^th: Joe Holland (1:08.90)
18^th: Karson Walker (1:14.94)
19^th: Charlie Howell (1:16.78)
 
Women's 50-Yard Freestyle:
7^th: Taya Swarts (25.26)
14^th: Maria Trotta (26.15)
29^th: Ellie Johnson (27.84)
32^nd: Ella Bombardier (28.40)
 
Men's 50-Yard Freestyle:
12^th: Ian Lucas (22.03)
21^st: Brayden Sneath (24.63)
 
Women's 200-Yard Butterfly:
9^th: Caroline Griffin (2:44.61)
11^th: Adyson Wiens (2:50.56)
 
Men's 200-Yard Butterfly:
9^th: Brandon Kendall (2:21.19)
 
Women's 100-Yard Freestyle:
7^th: Taya Swarts (55.06)
22^nd: Ella Bombardier (1:03.21)
 
Men's 100-Yard Freestyle:
13^th: Nolan Quinn (49.66)
21^st: Brayden Sneath (56.68)
 
Women's 200-Yard Backstroke:
15^th: Hara del Castillo (2:29.74)
16^th: Taylor Grader (2:30.03)
20^th: Mandy Butscher (2:34.74)
22^nd: Rylee Randle (2:36.32)
23^rd: Kaitie Coleman (2:37.55)
 
Men's 200-Yard Backstroke:
6^th: Gavin Lucas (2:07.22)
8^th: Silas Kirchoff (2:09.81)
10^th: Teagan Dougherty (2:15.95)
 
Women's 200-Yard Breaststroke:
13^th: Reagan Salsbury (2:38.01)
15^th: Valdis Thorsteinsdottir (2:40.33)
16^th: Ainsley Duell (2:43.26)
22^nd: Sofia Perdomo (3:01.40)
 
Men's 200-Yard Breaststroke:
12^th: Ayden McFarren (2:31.11)
13^th: Mar Thorsteinsson (2:31.97)
14^th: Nicholas Allison (2:32.33)
15^th: Joe Holland (2:36.49)
17^th: Karson Walker (2:56.24)
18^th: Charlie Howell (2:57.39)
 
Women's 500-Yard Freestyle:
9^th: Ava Steier (5:41.43)
19^th: Adelia Schupbach (6:20.17)
 
Men's 500-Yard Freestyle:
11^th: Mar Thorsteinsson (5:34.29)
 
Women's 100-Yard Butterfly:
15^th: Maria Trotta (1:07.39)
16^th: Adyson Wiens (1:08.19)
20^th: Caroline Griffin (1:11.76)
22^nd: Ellie Johnson (1:19.64)
 
Men's 100-Yard Butterfly:
13^th: Evan England (56.91)
15^th: Brandon Kendall (57.99)
19^th: Domanick Ragan (1:16.35)
 
Women's 100-Yard IM:
23^rd: Leah Rogers (1:12.62)
 
Men's 100-Yard IM:
6^th: Ian Lucas (56.73)
10^th: John Paul Robertson (59.77)
13^th: Nathan Troth (1:03.76)
 
Women's 400-Yard Freestyle Relay:
8^th: Maria Trotta, Reagan Salsbury, Ava Steier, Taya Swarts (3:48.68)
16^th: Kaitie Coleman, Valdis Thorsteinsdottir, Ainsley Duell, Adelia Schupbach (4:05.98)
20^th: Ella Bombardier, Adyson Wiens, Rylee Randle, Hara del Castillo (4:10.86)
22^nd: Ellie Johnson, Mandy Butscher, Taylor Grader, Caroline Griffin (4:24.19)
 
Men's 400-Yard Freestyle Relay:
11^th: Nathan Troth, Nolan Quinn, Gavin Lucas, Ian Lucas (3:21.04)
14^th: Nicholas Allison, Brandon Kendall, John Paul Robertson, Joe Holland (3:37.28)
15^th: Evan England, Charlie Howell, Brayden Sneath, Teagan Dougherty (3:42.29)
17^th: Domanick Ragan, Mar Thorsteinsson, Karson Walker, Silas Kirchoff (3:58.58)