The Luther women's swimming and diving team captured its third consecutive Iowa Conference Championship, posting a 217 point advantage over its nearest opponent. Luther tallied a team total of 686 points and was followed by Loras (469), Coe (430) and Simpson (164). The two-day meet was hosted by Coe College Feb. 2-3.  

The Norse tallied 17 all-conference performances, including five league titles in individual events. They also won two league titles in relays and placed second in three others. To earn all-conference honors, an individual or a relay team, must finish in the top two of an event.

Elissa Schmidt, posted three individual titles and was a member of two first place relay teams and two second place relay teams. Schmidt won the 100 freestyle (55.61), 50 freestyle (24.61) and 200 freestyle (1:58.58). Her times in the 50 and 200 freestyle were new meet records. She also swam the first leg of the 800 freestyle relay (8:13.00) and the anchor leg of the 200 medley relay (1:55.54) teams that captured IIAC titles. For her efforts, she was named the Iowa Conference Swimmer of the Year. With this honor she becomes the first two-time recipient of this award in Iowa Conference history. She was also presented this award in 2005.

Kristine Brick was also a multiple league champion, touching the finish pad first in both the 100 butterfly (1:01.91) and the 200 butterfly (2:19.00).

Valerie Hoops claimed a league title in the 500 freestyle (5:25.57) and placed second in the 400 IM (4:55.69).

Earning multiple all-conference honors with runner-up finishes were Allison Kruger for one-meter diving (376.60) and three-meter diving (336.60); Sara Kessler in the 100 backstroke (1:04.69) and 200 backstroke (2:17.83); Betsy Gilbertson in the 200 breaststroke (2:42.61) and the 200 IM (2:22.45); and Kristin Trudell in the 100 butterfly (1:04.26) and 200 butterfly (2:17.68). Katheryn Sundry placed second in the 1,650 freestyle (18:32.04), as did Amy Schneider in the 500 freestyle (5:28.66).

All-conference performance in relay competition included league championships in the 800 freestyle relay (Schmidt, Hoops, Gilbertson and Schneider), and 200 medley relay (Lauren Rauchwarter, Gilbertson, Brick and Schmidt). Second place finishes were posted by the 200 freestyle relay (Schmidt, Hoops, Schneider and Bethany Nicoll), 400 medley relay (Kessler, Gilbertson, Brick and Nicoll), and the 400 freestyle relay (Schmidt, Hoops, Nicoll and Schneider).

It was a dominating performance by the men's swimming and diving team, as it captured its third consecutive Iowa Conference championship. During the two-day meet hosted by Coe College Feb. 2-3, the Norse placed first in all but one event. The Norse posted a team total of 787 points, setting seven meet records in the process. Loras College was a distant second with 330 followed by Coe College with 223.

Cameron Webb was named the Swimmer of the Year following three individual first place finishes and three first place performances as a member of a relay team. Webb won the 400 IM (4:24.73), the 500 freestyle (4:53.41) and the 200 freestyle (1:45.16). His time in the 200 freestyle was a new meet record. He also help set new meet records as a member of both the 400 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay teams.

Adam Sill was named the Diver of the Year following his first place performance in three-meter competition (356.95), plus a runner-up finish in one-meter diving (378.00). With this honor, he becomes the third consecutive Luther performer to earn this award and fourth in the past five years.

Multiple conference championships were also recorded by Andrew Bross, Zach Sayles, Bryan Perrott and Michael Pettengill. Bross won both the 100 butterfly (52.52) and 200 butterfly (1:59.36), setting a meet record in the 100 fly. He also placed second in the 400 IM (4:27.91). Sayles won the 50 freestyle (21.89) and 100 freestyle (49.01) and was the runner-up in the 200 freestyle (1:50.82) behind Webb. Perrott was crowned an IIAC champion in the 200 IM (2:03.78), 100 backstroke (54.66) and the 200 backstroke (1:59.43). Pettengill set meet records in both the 100 breaststroke (:58.96) and the 200 breaststroke (2:13.17).

Relay teams that were crowned league champions included the 200 freestyle (Webb, Crawford, Zander and Sayles); 400 medley relay (Perrott, Pettengill, Bross and Webb); the 800 freestyle relay (Webb, Zander, Perrott and Crawford); the 200 medley relay (Perrott, Pettengill, Crawford and Sayles); and the 400 freestyle relay (Webb, Zander, Crawford and Sayles).

The 200 medley relay team set a new meet record (1:38.40) as did the 400 medley relay (3:36.30) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:13.04).

 

Complete meet results.

The Norse will be off until the Liberal Arts Championships that will also be hosted by Coe College Feb. 15-17.