MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead swimming & diving embarks on the 2026 calendar year at the MSUM-hosted Dragon Invite this Friday and Saturday. Competition from Hulbert Aquatic Center in West Fargo, N.D., is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. on Friday. Saturday will feature a preliminary sessions at 10 a.m. and a finals session at 4 p.m. 

Live video will be available at msumdragons.com. The Dragons have not competed since the Rochester Invitational in early December. 

Leon Strong Again...Sophomore Fernanda Leon looked sharp all week for the Dragons at the Rochester Invitational. On day one, Leon would place second overall in the 200-yard IM, earning a finals mark of 2:09.04. Leon would win preliminary action in the morning with a mark of 2:08.69. Friday's competition saw Leon collect an event win in the 400-yard IM, swimming a time of 4:32.21. Leon had placed third in preliminary action with a time of 4:37.26. On the final day of competition, Leon would look sharp again on Saturday, earning runner-up marks in the 200-yard fly championship final. Leon marked a 2:06.56 in the finals, which was just .06 off her collegiate best set last season.

Verke Glides...Junior Sophia Verke also saw strong results at the Rochester Invitational. Verke clocked a 24.77 in the 50-yard freestyle consolation final to win the heat. In the 100-yard freestyle, the Grand Rapids, Minn., native paced the Dragons with a third-place finish in the championship final. The junior clocked a 52.59 for the placement. Verke swam a 52.81 in preliminary action.

Moore Of That...Junior Maggie Moore would be right alongside Verke at the Rochester Invitational. Moore finished just behind Verke in the 50-yard freestyle consolation final, turning in a 24.36. Moore would secure runner-up marks in the 200-yard freestyle consolation final, touching the wall at 1:57.55. Moore marked a 1:58.49 in her preliminary swim. The Mesa, Ariz., native would win the C-final of the 100-yard freestyle behind a mark of 53.87.

On The Board...The Dragon divers would continue to see strong results at the Rochester Invitational. In 3-meter diving, Isabelle Johnson would lead the Dragons with an 11-dive score of 355.75 to finish 10^th. Zoe Bjerke would place 12^th with an overall score of 354.75 while Kennedy Olson placed 16^th with a score of 305.80. In 1-meter diving, Bjerke would lead the Dragons on Friday, tallying an 11-dive score of 372.75 for a fifth-place finish. Ruth Guy would place 16^th overall with a solid score of 322.70.

Flying Under The Radar...Junior Kelsey Jackson has been one of Moorhead's most consistent contributors throughout the season. At the Rochester Invitational, Jackson would place fourth overall in the championship final of the 100-yard backstroke. Jackson marked a 58.83 with the junior clocking a personal best 58.22 in the preliminary, which moves her into fourth all-time in school history.

Charlie King is in his eighth season as MSUM's head swimming & diving coach.