DECORAH, Iowa – The Macalester College men's swimming & diving team won the final event to secure a victory over Luther College in the first event of the 2024-25 season Friday night at Luther. The Scots won the dual, 151-143.

Trailing by three points heading into the 200-yard freestyle relay, Macalester's foursome of seniors Charles Batsaikhan (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/East Chapel Hill) and Isaac Kisker (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood), first year Max Taufen (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) and junior TJ Palli (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) edged Luther by .82 seconds with a time of 1:28.27 to win the event and the meet. Macalester also opened the meet with a relay victory in the 200-yard medley relay, with first year Kean James Pajarillaga (Saipan, Marianas Pacific/Grace Christian Academy), Batsaikhan, sophomore Thomas Moore (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Academy) and Kisker winning in 1:37.77.

Individuals winning their events include Pajarillaga, who won both the 100-yard backstroke (53.79) and the 200-yard backstroke (1:58.19) in his first collegiate competition. Moore won both the 100-yard butterfly (53.76) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:04.46). Palli was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:01.74, with Batsaikhan taking the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:16.15. Kisker won the 50-yard freestyle in 22.12.

Runner-up finishes were turned in by sophomore William Haby (Denver, Colo./George Washington) in the 1000-yard freestyle, Batsaikhan in the 200-yard freestyle, senior Ryan McNeff (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt) in the 200-yard butterfly, junior Will St. John (McGaheysville, Va./East Rockingham) in the 200 breaststroke, and Palli in the 200 IM.

In the diving events, junior Dylan Herlihy (Reading, Mass./Phillips Academy Andover) placed second on the 3-meter board and third on the 1-meter board.

Macalester hosts Saint John's on Saturday, Oct. 26 in the first home meet of the season at Riley Pool.

Click here for complete results.