The Lawrence University swimming and diving teams finished second and fourth at the MWC championships this past weekend at Grinnell. It was the men’s second year in a row of finishing second behind Grinnell. Grinnell, Lake Forest and Carroll beat the women.
The men got off to a good start Friday by taking second place in two relay events. The Vikings too second in the 200 free relay and the 400-medley relay. Adam Kolb also took a second place medal in the 500 freestyle. Steve Vander Naalt took third in the 200 IM for LU.
Saturday was marred by a couple of disqualifications ********– one man and one woman. It was the 200-yard medley for both teams, and both teams had qualifying times in the top two places. However, both teams went on to place well after the mishaps.
The women had Jenni Hair and Meredith Claycomb finish second and third in the 400 IM. Diver Sam Henreitz won third place in the one meter diving event.
For the men, it was Kolb taking third in the 200 free, Vander Naalt taking second in the 100 backstroke, the men’s relay taking second in the 800 free relay, and the Vikings finally getting the gold with Nick Heuer. Heuer took home first place in the 100 breaststroke.
Sunday, it was Hair doing well for the women again. She took home second place in the 1650-yard freestyle. Hair is only a freshman.
For the men, Kolb won his second medal individually with a second-place finish in the 1650 free. Vander Naalt would add a third silver medal by taking second in the 200 backstroke. The 400 free relay team took second for the men as well.
Heuer ended his meet by taking first in the 200 breaststroke. He won in a conference championship record time of 2:09.47.
The men will lose several class swimmers this year. Heuer, Chris Perry and Chris Sarasin all competed in their last meet for the Vikings. The women will lose Mara Sarabia, and some others, but will be in good shape with the return of Meggin Brittain from sickness to compete for a top spot in the Midwest.
Men finish second, women fourth at MWC Championships -jcr -dlh
