ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Northern Michigan University senior diver Molly Kearney won both diving events and qualified for the NCAA Championships while four other Wildcat swimmers earned NCAA B-Cuts during the first day of completion at the St. Cloud State Invitational Friday.

"It was a great day for the Wildcats," said NMU head coach Heidi Voigt. "We won every event except one and placed second in that one. Everyone raced well, lots of enthusiasm on deck. I am excited to see how tomorrow goes."

The Wildcats lead the competition with 446 points, wining all but two events during the first day of action. St. Cloud State sits in second place with 439 points followed by Minnesota State-Moorhead in third with 312 points and Northern State is fourth with 112 points.

Kearney scored 255.70 points in the one-meter diving event and 242.10 points in the three-meter event.

Seniors Debbi Lawrence and Madisen Sechena both picked up four wins during the competition. Sechena had three individual wins and a relay win while Lawrence had two individual wins and two relay wins.

Sechena won the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:11.60, the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:10.27 and the 200 breast stroke with a time of 2:20.35. Sechena also was part of the 200-yard individual medley relay team which took first place. 

Lawrence picked up wins in the 200-yard freestyle clocking a time of 1:53.36 and the 100-yard freestyle finishing in 51.57. Lawrence swam opening leg of the 200 yard IM relay and anchor on the 200-yard freestyle relay.

NMU continues competition at the St. Cloud State Invitational on Saturday as action gets underway at 11 a.m.