The Lawrence University (Viking) men’s swimming and diving team season was one of the best in recent memory. It was the first time in about five years that the men’s team went into the Midwest Conference (MWC) Championships with a full (18 scoring members) team. In doing so, they clearly were in the running for a conference title. As the season rolled-on the Vikings successfully finished a 5-2 dual meet record, won two invitationals and placed second in the Wisconsin State Private Colleges Swimming Championships. Consequently, the men were highly confident in their abilities coming into the final week of the season. In fact, the success behind the team’s taper was really predicated on their focus going into the meet. Since the team had been so successful during the season and was peaking at just the right time, they were set for the perfect meet. When all was finished the Vikings placed a strong second, however the real story was the success of individual performances. Every Viking athlete, had at least one lifetime best and some even made it a clean sweep with all PRs. This collective team performance did not go unnoticed, as the Vikings Head Coach Kurt Kirner was honored with “Men’s Coach of the Year” honors. In the end, the team as a whole, both men and women were awfully proud as “one team does not exist without the other.” They practice together and compete amongst one another. It is a tribute to both squads!!!
Leading the Vikings was senior captains, Steve Vander Naalt (Carol Stream, IL) and Adam Kolb (St. Paul, MN) with six top three placings (all PRs) in six events. Vander Naalt swept the backstroke events winning conference championships in both the 100 (53.96) and 200 (1:59.75), and placing third in the 200 IM with a team record (2:00.46). Kolb, a former MWC event champ, placed second in the 100 and 500 free events (48.57 and 4:51.67, respectively) and third in the 200 free (1:45.62). Freshmen Patrick McCrory (Racine , WI) was equally as impressive gathering three 2nd place finishes (all PRs) in the 50 free (21.27), 100 fly (52.78) and 100 back (54.69). The three of them along with frosh Kyle Griffin (Cedar Rapids, IA) won the 800 Free Relay with a time of 7:15.12. In diving, Jeff Brown (Neenah, WI) proved to be unbeatable on the 3 meter and placed a conference record on the 1 meter only to be beat by last years’ MWC champ. In both events, Brown ironically accumulated identical scores of 422.60. Other Vikings to place in the top six included Griffin (1650, 500 and 200 free), Taylor Brengel (Whitefish Bay, WI; 100 and 200 back) and Matt Yauch (St. Paul, MN; 400 IM).
Our second place team finish marked the fourteenth consecutive season the Vikings have placed in the top three in the eight-team MWC. At the MWCs, the men’s and women’s teams showed 75% season best times and 90% of Lawrence swimmers achieved at least one lifetime best during the season. To view each days MWC Results, check out the following links: |
Voted Most Valuable by fellow teammates AdamKolb '06 swims the 200 free. |
