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Grinnell Conquers Midwest Conference Championships

The Grinnell College women’s swimming and diving team won their fifth consecutive Midwest Conference (MWC) title on Sunday evening at Russell K. Osgood Pool and Deck. 

The Pioneers victory was never in doubt as they easily outscored second-place Lawrence University 981.5-572.  Lake Forest College took third in the team standings with 534 points and were followed by Ripon College with 423.  Knox College came in fifth (254.5) while Illinois College took sixth with 224 points.  Monmouth College (215) and Beloit College (190) completed the standings. 

Lake Forest’s Lily McCarthy started the night off with a victory in the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:55.14).  Her teammate Lauren Dalecky also left Grinnell with a blue ribbon as she won the 200-yard backstroke (2:24.15). 

Ripon College’s Emma Goral won her second event of the weekend on Sunday as she earned the 200-yard butterfly (2:08.01) for the second straight season.  The Red Hawks’ Sarah Olk was named the sport’s Elite 20 Award winner at the conclusion of the meet.  The Elite 20 Award is given to the student-athlete that participates in their championship event with the highest grade point average. 

MWC Swimmer of the Meet Beth Tsuha of Grinnell College won the 100-yard freestyle (53.16) and aided the effort of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay (3:34.47).  Also on the relay were Chloe Briney, Taylor Hurney and Ana Karin Kozjek.  Grinnell’s Maria Venneri won her second of the event of the weekend as she claimed the 200-yard backstroke (2;04.38). 
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The Pioneers Summer White was named the Diver of the Meet as she finished third in the one-meter diving event and earned a victory in the three-meter event. 

Grinnell head coach Erin Hurley was named the league’s Coach of the Year after the convincing victory. 

Finally, Illinois College freshman Hannah Mark earned the Newcomer of the Year award after she finished third in the 100-yard breaststroke, third in the 200-yard breaststroke, and third in the 200-yard individual medley. 

The Grinnell College Pioneers won their second consecutive Midwest Conference (MWC) Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship on Sunday.

The Pioneers eclipsed the Foresters of Lake Forest College by 170 points over the three-day meet.  Monmouth College finished third in the team standings with 336.5 points and Lawrence University came in fourth with 303.5.  Illinois College (294) took fifth, with Ripon College finishing in sixth (240.5).  Beloit College finished in seventh overall (237.5), with Knox College coming in eighth (138). 

Senior Ian Dixon-Anderson got things started for the home team by taking first in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:12.63).  The Pioneers’ Will Lindell also topped the podium in the 200-yard breaststroke in a conference record and NCAA ‘B’ cut time of 2:03.04.  Lindell was named the MWC Swimmer of the Meet after the conclusion of the meet.

Grinnell’s Houfu Yan was named the MWC Newcomer of the Year and added to his individual point total after claiming the 200-yard butterfly crown (1:53.74). 

Grinnell head coach Erin Hurley was named the Coach of the Year following the meet. 

Lake Forest’s Orion Huey was part of two more MWC titles on Sunday evening.  The senior won the 200-yard backstroke (1:51.14) and teamed with David Bunting, Sam Freedberg and Travis Johnson to claim the meets’ final race, the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:07.10).  The Foresters’ Heath Ogawa was named the MWC Diver of the Meet at the conclusion of competition.  Ogawa set conference records and was victories in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events. 

Monmouth College’s Noah Barnard won his second title of the weekend after he won the 100-yard freestyle (46.21). 

For the second consecutive season, Illinois College’s Oak Wattanasirakul was the recipient of the league’s Elite 20 Award.  

The Elite 20 Award is given to the student-athlete competing in their respective championship event with the highest grade point average. 

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