Night Three Results | Championship Central

HOUSTON (SMU) - Sam Straughan picked up wins in the 100-yard backstroke and butterfly, and swam the fly leg of the Mustangs' winning 400-yard medley relay team to help lead the SMU men's swimming and diving team on night three of the American Athletic Conference Championship.

In his first race of the night, Straughan clocked a personal-best 47.11 fly for the win. The senior was one of two Mustangs in the Championship Final, with junior Tucker Wells coming in at 49.37 for eighth place. In the Consolation Final, freshman Garrett Carson (50.00) finished fourth, while Justin Gibson (50.15) was fifth.

For his second win, Straughan took on the field in the 100-yard backstroke and was one of two Mustangs to make the podium. Straughan posted a 47.23, dropping his time from prelims by just under two seconds, while sophomore Bartosz Krzyzaniak touched in 48.10 for the bronze. Two more Ponies competed in the Championship Final, giving SMU half the field, with junior Brandon Norman finishing sixth and freshman Charlie Wort finishing seventh.

In the Consolation Final, juniors Nick Hook and Hayden Corley finished fourth and eighth, respectively.

SMU's third individual win on the night came from program record holder Christian Scherubl in the 200-yard freestyle. The sophomore posted a pool-record 1:35.54 just ahead of East Carolina's Michael Dugan. The race was a rematch of last night's 500-yard freestyle, which Scherubl won as well.

Both freshman Lucas Schenke (fifth) and junior Matthew Colket (sixth) placed in the 'A' Final of the event, while freshman Carson Klein won the 'B' Final.

To close the evening, SMU picked up its third relay win of the Championship leading all teams with a 400-yard medley time of 3:12.43. Krzyzaniak led the charge in the backstroke before handing off to Ziga Cerkovnik in the breast. Straughan increased the Mustangs' lead during the fly split as the only competitor under 47 seconds, and Schenke sealed the victory anchoring with the free.

Cerkovnik led the Mustang effort in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing fourth, and sophomore Stefan Popov earned the top spot Consolation Final, with Corley finishing third.

In the opening race, freshman Kianu Kitching represented the Mustangs in the 400-yard individual medley, earning 11th place points for SMU.

In diving action, Bryce Klein earned his second gold of the Championship, this time on the 3-meter. Following preliminary action, Klein took the top seed into the Championship Final and posted a 40+-point victory at 394.80. Senior Daniel Pitts was sixth in the 'A' Final, while classmate Parker Meinecke finished 12th overall and Parker Holloway was 14th.

The Mustangs trail East Carolina in the team standings 612.5 to 558.5, while Cincinnati (448) and Connecticut (416) round out the group.

Saturday marks the final day of The American Championship and features the 1,650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 400 free relay and platform. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. CT, with the opening round of diving to follow at 12:30 p.m. The two fastest heats of the 1,650 will kick off finals starting at 6 p.m., with slower heats taking place mid-day.