Luther Men Win Grinnell Invite, Luther Women Second

The Luther men's swimming and diving team posted a dominating performance at the two-day Grinnell Invitational. The Norse placed first in every relay and posted 13 individual titles en route to a team total of 788 points. Grinnell was a distant second with 506, followed by Monmouth with 210. Nine teams participated in the meet.

Individually, Michael Pettengill, placed first in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, establishing new school records in the process. Pettengill won the 100 breaststroke (59.51), breaking the old record (1:00.08) set by Matt Miller in 1997. He then went on to break the school record in the 200 breaststroke (2:11.89), breaking the old mark (2:12.02) set by Greg Wagoner in 1995.

Bryan Perrott, Cameron Webb and Alex Eaganhouse joined Pettengill with multiple first place finishes.

Perrott led all swimmers with four individual titles. He won the 200 IM (2:02), 100 backstroke (54.98), 200 backstroke (1:58.96) and the 400 IM (4:26.17). His time in the 400 IM ranks fifth all-time.

Webb won the 500 freestyle (4:50.05), 100 freestyle (48.95) and the 200 freestyle (1:46.03).

Eganhouse won both the three-meter diving (418.05) and one-meter diving (421.80) events.

First place finishes were also posted by Eric Crawford in the 100 butterfly (53.90) and Zach Sayles in the 50 freestyle (22.34).

The women's swimming and diving team performed well at the two-day Grinnell Invitational, but fell 83 points shy of first place. The Norse posted a team total of 428 and trailed host Grinnell, who won the team title with 510. Carthage was third at 337, followed by Macalester with 258. Twelve teams participated in the meet.

Elissa Schmidt tallied two first place finishes, touching the pad ahead of her competitors in the 100 freestyle (55.77) and the 200 freestyle (2:00.16). She also placed second in the 200 IM (2:16.87) and was third in the 50 freestyle (26.08). Her time in the 200 IM ranks second all-time.

Kristin Trudell won the 200 butterfly (2:15.60) posting a time that ranks second all-time. She finished ahead of school record holder in this event Kristine Brick, who placed third (2:19.60). Brick also picked up a second place finish in the 100 butterfly (1:02.26).

Valerie Hoops and Lauren Rauchwarter also posted times that ranked in Luther's top-five of their respective events. Hoops placed second in the 500 freestyle (5:21.51), 400 IM (4:53.07) and the 200 freestyle (2:00.81). Her times in the 500 free and 400 IM rank second all-time. Rauchwarter finished third in the 200 backstroke (2:19.43) with a time that ranks fourth all-time.

The Norse also won the 800 freestyle relay (8:17.26) and finished third in the 200 freestyle, 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. The 800 free relay team included Schmidt, Hoops, Katheryn Sundry and Amy Schneider.