Tis the season, and the Luther Norse rang in the new championship year with eight Iowa Intercollegiate meet records, three pool records and one school record, en route to the 2006 Iowa Conference championship. The Luther women overcame a first-day deficit to earn their own title. The Norse men dominated the two-day event posting a point total of 726 points. Loras College was a distant second at 495 and Coe finished third at 379. Trailing by four points after day one, the Norse women tallied 360 points during day two, posting a team point total of 576. Coe, who led after day one, finished second at 520.5. Loras College was third at 452.5, followed by Simpson College with 148.

Andrew Bross (So., Omaha, Neb./Northwest), who posted three individual first place performances and swam the anchor legs of two first place relay teams, was named the Iowa Conference Male Swimmer of the Year. Bross won the 400 IM (4:31.66), the 200 butterfly (1:59.18) and the 100 butterfly (52.82). His times in the 100 and 200 fly were new meet records and his 200 fly time was also a Coe College pool record. As a member of the 800 freestyle relay (7:14.53) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:15.26), these teams posted new meet records as well.

All-conference honors were carded by Elissa Schmidt (So., Claremont, Minn./Owatonna) who captured two IIAC titles, finishing first in both the 100 freestyle (55.26) and the 200 freestyle (2:00.24). Schmidt won both of these events in 2005. She also placed second in the 50 freestyle (25.41). Amy Schneider (Fr., East Dubuque, Ill./Wahlert) established a school record in the 500 freestyle (5:19.00) en route to the conference title and also placed second behind Schmidt in the 200 freestyle (2:01.11). Allison Kruger (Jr., St. Peter, Minn./Mankato West) won the one-meter diving competition (345.60) and was second in three-meter diving (347.60). Kruger's conference championship was the first of her career. Tania Connolly (Sr., Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) was crowned the league champion in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.27) and event she placed fifth a year ago. Kristine Brick (Jr., Central City, S.D./Lead) won the 100 butterfly (1:01.57) for the second year in a row, and was second in the 200 IM (2:17.23).

Two conference meet records were established by Luther relay teams. The foursome of Schmidt, Valerie Hoops (So., Freeport, Ill), Betsy Gilbertson (So., Plymouth, Minn./Maple Grove) and Schneider won the 800 freestyle relay (8:11.26). This time also tied the Luther school record. Hoops, Schmidt, Kristin Corey (So., Denison, Iowa/Carroll) and Schneider won the 400 freestyle (3:43.44).

Head Coach Lance Huber was named the Iowa Conference Coach of the Year, the second consecutive time he has received this award. Individually, 21 all-conference performances were recorded by the Norse. To earn this honor, an athlete must finish in the top two of his individual event or be a member of a relay team that finished first or second. Conference championships were recorded by Cameron Webb (Fr., Carroll, Iowa) in the 500 freestyle (4:57.33) and 200 freestyle (2:19.55) and Bryan Perrott (So., Northfield, Minn.) in the 200 backstroke (1:57.85). Webb set a meet record in the 200 freestyle, while Perrott set a meet record and school record in the 200 backstroke. Webb also placed second in the 100 freestyle (48.20). Perrott was second in both the 100 backstroke (54.47) and the 200 freestyle (1:47.89). Second place honors were recorded by Eric Crawford (So., Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln) in the 50 freestyle (22.60); Brien Coffield (Fr., Firth, Idaho/Bonneville) in the 400 IM (4:36.38); Greg Sorenson (So., Wooster, Ohio/Medford Area) in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.94); Adam Kellerhals (Sr., Palatine, Ill.) in the 1,650 freestyle (17:49.20); and John Miller (Fr., Neenah, Wis.) in the 200 breaststroke (2:19.55). Relay titles were won by Webb, Perrott, Crawford and Bross in the 800 freestyle (7:14.53); Crawford, Ben Skutnik (So., Hastings, Neb.), Bross and Webb in the 200 freestyle (1:28.59); and Webb, Perrott, Skutnik and Bross in the 400 freestyle (3:15.26). The 800 and 200 freestyle times were meet records. Second place finishes in the relay events went to Perrott, Miller, Bross and Webb in the 400 medley (3:41.78); and Perrott, Miller, Crawford and Skutnik in the 200 medley (1:40.49). Luther will complete its schedule at the Liberal Arts Championships on Feb. 17-18. This two day meet will also be hosted by Coe College.