CLEVELAND, Oh - In a spectacular display of skill and determination, the Aquacats emerged victorious at the 49th Viking Invitational, clinching the victory with an impressive total score of 400.5 points. The day was marked by exceptional achievements and record-breaking performances that showcased the team's prowess in the water at Robert F. Busbey Natatorium at Cleveland State University.

The day's standout was undeniably senior Joshua Toothman, who dominated individual events and secured the prestigious High Point Award for the men. Toothman's exceptional talent and contribution were critical to the Aquacats' success.

Toothman began the morning with a record-breaking preliminary race in the 50-yard Freestyle. With a finish time of 20.21, Toothman shattered a program record of 20.35 that was held by Micah Murtha '22. Not only was that time a program record, but it was a Viking Meet record that was last owned by Olympian Gold Medalist Hunter Armstrong. 

More Viking Meet records were shattered by the Aqua Cats on Saturday as the 200-yard Freestyle Relay team of Toothman, Tyler Williams, Ethan Harvey and Luke Murtha took first with a time of 1:24.82. The 200-yard Medley Relay team of Jaimeson Hong, Jude Banks, Connor Fitzgerald and Murtha broke a Viking Meet record with a time of 1:34.24.

The 400-yard Freestyle Relay of Toothman, Williams, Hong, and Maxwell Santoro won with a time of 3:08.68. 

The Cats have won three consecutive events, taking first at the Hawken Dual-Meet, St. Charles Catholic Showdown and Viking Meet. The Cats will have a short break before returning to the water at the Gilmour Academy Invitational on Wednesday, December 27. 

The full event recap can be found below: 

200 Medley Relay:

1st- Hong, Banks, Fitzgerald, Murtha 1:34.24

200 Freestyle:

2nd- Williams 1:42.97

3rd- Santoro 1:45.47

8th- Harvey 1:48.13

200 Individual Medley:

4th- Johannessen 1:59.54

6th- Banks 2:01.12

20th- Fitzgerald 2:08.62

50 Freestyle:

1st- Toothman 20.21

6th- Murtha 22.31

11th- McIntyre 22.14

14th- Saxon 22.98

100 Butterfly:

5th- Fitzgerald 53.12

6th- Harvey 53.33

20th- Yan 58.67

100 Freestyle:

1st- Toothman 45.27

3rd- McIntyre 48.17

500 Freestyle:

3rd- Santoro 4:50.20

200 Freestyle Relay:

1st- Williams, Murtha, Harvey, Toothman 1:24.82

100 Backstroke:

2nd- Hong 51.36

5th- Williams 53.73

12th- Murtha 55.26

18th- Moran 59.31

100 Breaststroke:

1st- Banks 56.75

6th- Saxon 1:01.27

11th- Johannessen 59.40

400 Freestyle Relay:

1st- Toothman, Santoro, Hong, Williams 3:08.68