The Grinnell College women’s swimming and diving team have opened up a massive 279.5-point lead over the field after the second day of the 2017 Midwest Conference (MWC) Championship.
The Pioneers won five of the eight events contested on Saturday night. Maria Venneri, Beth Tsuha, Becca Teske and Chloe Briney opened the evening with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay (1:48.57). Venneri made it two-for-two in the very next event as she easily won the 400-yard individual medley (4:39.52). Tsuha also claimed an individual event this evening as she touched the wall first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.10).
Grinnell’s Summer White earned the blue ribbon in the three-meter diving event. The junior qualified for the NCAA regional diving meet after earning 435.70 points. Grinnell capped the evening by winning the 800-yard freestyle relay. Haley O’Neill, Becca Teske, Ana Karin Kozjek and Tsuha combined to swim a 7:53.27.
Lake Forest College’s Emily Bowens and Lauren Dalecky also won individual titles on Saturday. Bowens won the 100-yard backstroke (58.20), while Dalecky claimed the 100-yard breaststroke title (1:06.53). Ripon College’s Emma Goral successfully defended her 100-yard butterfly crown after swimming a 57.20.
Grinnell enters the final day of competition witht 672.5 points, while Lake Forest has earned 393. Lawrence University sits in third (379), followed by Ripon (276) and Knox College (197.5). Monmouth College (169), Illinois College (164) and Beloit College (135) complete the standings.
Below are the top three finishers in each of the eight contested events on Friday. Action at Russell K. Osgood Pool and Deck gets underway again at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.
The Grinnell College men’s swimming and diving team has built a 93-point lead after the second day of the 2017 Midwest Conference (MWC) Championship.
The Pioneers held a 10-point lead over Lake Forest College heading into today and now hold a much larger lead, mostly because of their performance in the 400-yard individual medley. Grinnell had five of the top six finishers in the event to score 80 points. Will Lindell touched the wall first (4:05.25), followed by teammate Ian Dixon-Anderson (4:07.01) as both swimmers registered NCAA ‘B’ cuts. Lindell also claimed the 100-yard breaststroke title in a MWC record 57.02.
Grinnell’s Ben Grubb swam to the blue ribbon in the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.11) after narrowly edging out David Bunting of Lake Forest (1:43.26). Freshman Hofu Yan added 20 points to the Pioneers’ total as he won the 100-yard backstroke. Yan also contributed to the Pioneers’ victory in the 800-yard freestyle relay and teamed up with Grubb, Dixon-Anderson and Benjamin Heller.
Lake Forest claimed the other three events on Saturday night. Sam Freedberg and Orion Huey finished first and second in the 100-yard butterfly, respectively, while diver Heath Ogawa won his second MWC title of the weekend. Ogawa set another conference record in the one-meter dive (559.30), finishing ahead of teammate Matt Demirs (411.25).
Finally, the foursome of Virgil Thomas, Josh Georgeff, Freedburg and Huey claimed the 200-yard medley relay crown (1:34.10).
Lawrence University has vaulted to third place in the team standings with 236.5 points, while Monmouth College (209.5) and Illinois College (204) are within striking distance of the Vikings. Beloit College is in sixth overall (170.5), with Ripon College (162.5) and Knox College (108) completing the standings.
Below are the top three finishers in each of the eight contested events on Friday. Action at Russell K. Osgood Pool and Deck gets underway again at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.
