Both the mens and womens swim and dive teams took second place at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Conference. 

Mens

Three swimmers took first place in three different competitions. Micheal Bylander, a second-year, took first in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:01.28. Dylan Glumac-Berberich, a fourth-year, took first in the one meter dive with 572.95. Collin Miller, a fourth-year, took first in the 100-yard free with 44.19. 

Miller broke the WIAC record and his own record in the 100-yard breaststroke preliminaries with a time of 52.75, which is currently No. 1 in the nation.  In the finals, he won the 100-yard breastroke, beating his preliminary time with a time of 52.38, which is currently the best time in the NCAA DIII this season.  Miller is now the second DIII swimmer to ever swim under 53 seconds in the 100-yard breaststroke. 

“It’s an honor to have my name written down as one of the record holders,” Miller said. “As a senior I want those records to stand as proof that if you put your mind to it, anything is possible.”

Miller, Sam Ryf, a first-year, Nicholas Meints, a fourth-year and Bylander placed second in the 400-yard freestyle relay with times of 22.02, 47.04, 21.50 and 46.43, respectively. 

Five swimmers took third place. Jack Poppitz, a second-year, took third in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:06.84. Meints took third in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:53.48. Riley Jorgenson, a third-year, took third in the 1650 meter free with a time of 16:38.87. Martin Kocher, a first-year, took third in the one meter dive with 446.20. 

Miller said this season was his favorite because he made stronger friendships and had the most fun.

“I think what Eau Claire does better than any other team is the team culture,” Miller said. “We’re a giant family and that is why I am so proud of the team.”

Womens

In the 200-yard backstroke, Emma Steffel, a second-year, placed first with a time of 2:06.67, while Maddie Kooima, a second-year, placed third with a time of 2:09.66. 

In the 1650 meter free, Paige Pelikan, a second-year, placed second with a time of 17:43.20,  while Anna Theisen, a fourth-year, placed third with a time of 17:43.82.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Steffel, Rachel Baker, a first-year, Pelikan and Katherine O’Connell placed 3rd with times of 25.54, 54.01, 25.55 and 53.69, respectively. Pelikan also placed second in the 200 yard free with a time of 1:55.61.

Anna Czuback, a first-year, placed in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:27.78 and Sarah Dahlk, a second-year, placed second in the 3-meter dive with 404.70. 

Anne Ryder, the head coach of the swim and dive team, said the team was very confident as they went into the conference and were happy with the outcome. 

“I’m always a little sad after it’s over,” Ryder said. “It’s such an emotional meet in the best possible way and watching the team perform the way they do is exciting and there are a lot of happy tears. It takes me a few days to recover from that.”

Ryder expressed her pride for the team, especially for Kocher and Dahlk, as it was their first time qualifying for zones. 

Ryder went on to say the season was incredible and despite the long season of gruesome training, the team had a lot of fun. 

Armagost can be reached at [email protected].