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RIPON, Wis. – The 2013 edition of the Midwest Conference (MWC) Swimming and Diving Championships will take place Friday, February 15 through Sunday, February 17, 2013 at the Russell K. Osgood Pool on the campus of Grinnell.

The Grinnell men continued its championship run with its 11th straight championship in 2012 and swim for the 36th championship in school history. The Grinnell women had its 13 year championship run snapped by Lake Forest last season as they aim for a repeat bid and the schools 11th championship.

On the women’s side there are 12 individual events that return a champion while the men will have 12 individual champions come back to defend their crowns. Along with MWC Championships there will be MWC records and NCAA qualifications at stake as a combined eight conference records were broken with six different events having champions that secured a NCAA “A” cut or “B” cut at the 2012 championships.

Beloit finished sixth on the men’s side and seventh on the women’s side in 2012 but return strong contenders on each side as the team looks for its first championship since 1950 when the men were MWC Champions. Will McAneny headlines the men’s team as he ranks sixth in the conference in the 50 freestyle (22.46) while also ranking tenth in the league in the 100-yard freestyle (50.04). John Kamada will compliment McAneny as he ranks 11th in the 400 individual medley (4:41.66) and 13th in the 200 breaststroke (2:28.24). On the women’s side Shaunte Moss and Dana Olesch combine to rank in the top ten in five different events. Moss ranks eighth in the league in the 50 freestyle (26.45) and ninth in the 200 breaststroke (2:40.23) while she comes in at fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.07). Olesch is one of the best in the conference in the butterfly events as she ranks fifth in the 100 butterfly (1:02.09) and seventh in the 200 butterfly (2:25.50). The women’s 400 medley relay team will also contend for a medal as they rank fourth among all schools (4:20.20).

The Carroll men were a third place finisher at last year’s championships and aim for the school’s first championship at Grinnell. Alex Schneider contends in three different events as he holds the fourth fastest time in the 100 butterfly (54.69) while teammate Dylan Coonradt is right behind him in sixth place (55:15). Schneider also holds top ten times in both the 100 breaststroke (eighth, 1:03.41) and 200 breaststroke (eighth, 2:21.91) to lead the Pioneers men. Alex Mishun defends his gold medal performance form last season in the 1-meter dive while being named the 2012 Men’s Diver of the Meet at last year’s championships. Val Julian holds top ten times in four events led by her time in the 50 freestyle (25.91) which is third fastest in the league this season. She posted the sixth fastest time in both the 100 freestyle (57.16) and 100 butterfly (1:03.11) while ranking 11th in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.30). Carolyn Kovanic is 11th in the 200 breaststroke (2:43.08) while the Pioneers 200 medley relay (first, 1:52.26) and 200 freestyle relay (third, 1:44.94) teams both compete for a gold medal.

Grinnell had its women championship streak snapped last year at 13 while the men extended its streak to 11 and both try to claim championships in 2013 with talented rosters. Michael Brus was named 2012 Men’s Swimmer of the Meet after winning three individual championships and will contend in 11 different events this season where he holds top three times. Brus finished the season with top times in the 500 freestyle (4:43.76), 1000 freestyle (9:53.65), 1650 freestyle (16.35.02), 100 backstroke (53.05), 200 individual medley (1:57.63), and the 400 individual medley (4:14.13). Dylan Gray currently holds the fastest time in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.29) while Gus Fulgoni challenges for a championship in the 50 freestyle with the second-best time in the league (21.88). The Pioneer men also defend their titles in five relays where they rank second during the regular season. The women do not lack for talent as Hailey Levin and Beth Gillig will push for gold in a wide array of events. Levin is in the top three in eight different events which includes a top time in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.92) and 200 individual medley (2:11.14) while earning runner-up marks in the 200 backstroke (2:16.41), 200 breaststroke (2:28.74), 100 butterfly (1:01.28), and 400 individual medley (4:42.20). Gillig has top five times in nine events including a top time in the 100 butterfly (1:00.76) and second place times in the 50 freestyle (25.50), 100 freestyle (55.69), 200 freestyle (1:59.31), and 100 backstroke (1:02.56).

After a ninth place finish for the men and an eighth place finish for the women in 2012 the Blueboys and Lady Blues make a charge to move up in the standings in 2013. John Whitney leads the Blueboys in the sprint events as he ranks fifth in the league in the 50 freestyle (22.44) and is second on the team in the 100 freestyle (51.01). Xander Benziger contends in the breaststroke events ranking third in the MWC in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.79) and 14th in the 200 breaststroke (2:28.26) while Brad Franke is 11th in the 200 freestyle (1:50.85) and 13th in the 500 freestyle (5:09.07). Elisha Nelson tops the Lady Blues in three events including the 100 (1:12.54) and 200 breaststroke (2:40.73) where she has a pair of top ten times and checks in at 16th in the 200 individual medley (2:26.41). Audrey Brauer posted top times for the team in both the 100 backstroke (1:08.45) and 100 butterfly (1:07.33) with teammate Kelsey Tucker leading the team in the 1,650 freestyle (21:59.50).

The Prairie Fire made an improvement last season with a seventh place men’s finish and a sixth place women’s finish after both teams finished eighth the year prior and aim to improve again in 2013. On the men’s side Knox will rely on Chris Walsh to lead the way as he tallied a pair of top ten finishes in the 50 freestyle (eighth, 22.61) and the 100 backstroke (sixth, 56.98). Walsh also leads the team in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.06 while Samuel Chen headlines the team in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.00). Susannah Lodge-Rigal paces Knox in the distance events ranking 11th in the 1,000 freestyle (12:06.67) and 13th in the 1,650 freestyle (20:35.56) and will be looked upon to score crucial points. Colleen Shelly tops the team in both the 100 breaststroke (14th, 1:14.69) and 50 freestyle (16th, 26.82) with Zoey Kudla competing in the 200 backstroke (2:27.49) and the 400 individual medley (5:29.89).

Lake Forest successfully snapped the Grinnell’s 13 year run as women’s champion with a 54 point victory while the men were runners-up at the 2012 championships. Garr Punnett is the defending champion in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, and 200 individual medley and ranks first in the league in both butterfly events (100 – 51.41, 200 – 1:57.08) and second in the 200 individual medley (2:00.09). Alex Marks was the 2012 champion in the 100 breaststroke (fourth, 1:01.83) and 200 breaststroke (third, 2:15.82) and Mark Wilcoxen is looking to win the 1,650 freestyle (fourth, 17:28.56) for the second straight year. Zach Wenner paces the Foresters in the freestyle events, holding the fastest times in the league in the 100 (48.06) and 200 (1:45.34) while ranking second in the 500 (4:51.98). The women return champions in 14 events (nine individual, five relay). Kelsey Hoeper won the 50 freestyle (14th, 26.81), 100 freestyle (15th, 58.19), and 100 backstroke (ninth, 1:05.86) last year and Kelsey Miller is the defending champion in the 200 backstroke (1st, 2:09.76) and owns the league’s top time this season in the 100 backstroke (1:00.20). 2010 and 2012 Women’s Swimmer of the Meet Becky Shaak is at the top of the charts in the 200 breaststroke (2:26.58) and 400 individual medley (4:38.02) and ranks second in the 200 individual medley (2:11.87), all championship events for her last season. Loren Dutca (1,650 freestyle, second, 18:22.97) and Samantha Gardner (1-meter dive) also are back after winning championships last year.

Both Lawrence teams brought home fourth-place finishes last season and will swim to earn the school’s first women’s championship in school history and the first men’s championship since 2000. Evan Flack swam top-15 times in three different events, including the 100 (seventh, 49.48) and 200 freestyle (eighth, 1:48.76), along with the 100 butterfly (12th, 56.33). Charlie Mann ranks ninth in the conference in the 100 freestyle (49.85) and also is in contention in the 50 freestyle (12th, 22.73) and 100 backstroke (13th, 57.97).The 200 freestyle relay team of Flack, Mann, Grant Wilkie and Nick Craker swam the third-fastest time (1:30.57) this season and will be one of the favorites for gold in the race. On the women’s side, the Vikings return a pair of 2012 champions with Hannah Gabriel and Taylor Winter looking for repeat performances. Gabriel won the 200 freestyle and ranks fourth in the league (2:02.28) entering the championships while Winter is defending her gold medal performance in the 500 freestyle where she ranks third in the league (5:21.84). Winter also holds the top time in the 1,000 (11:04.08) and 1,650 freestyle (18.22.87) while teammate Emily Flack ranks in the top five in three different events (200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke).

Monmouth aims to earn a championship for the first time in school history after fifth and third place finishes last season by the men’s and women’s team, respectively. Gabe Baginski contends in a vast array of events as he ranks in the top ten in eight different events including ranking in the top three in the 100 freestyle (third, 48.36) and 200 freestyle (third, 1:46.79) while ranking fourth in both the 50 freestyle (22.20) and 100 backstroke (55.87). Neal Hosper challenges in the distance events with the eighth-best time in the 1,650 freestyle (18:10.57) and the seventh fastest time in the 1,000 freestyle (10:45.83). For the women, Erica McAloon and Erin Willhite lead the charge combining for ten top ten times in eight different events. McAloon holds the third-best time in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.39) while entering the championships with the fifth best time in the 50 freestyle (26.21) and 200 breaststroke (2:35.56). Willhite enters third in the 100 freestyle (55.75) and fourth in the 50 freestyle (25.94) to compliment McAloon at the top of the roster.

Ripon tries to move up on both the men’s and women’s side when they travel to Grinnell after an eighth place men’s finish and a ninth place women’s finish. The men are led by Jonathan Newbery who posted a pair of top ten times during the regular season in the 50 freestyle (seventh, 22.48) and the 100 freestyle (eighth, 49.84). Joining Newbery is Kevin Polston who contends in both the 100 (14th, 58.39) and 200 backstroke (2:15.62) while Tyler Rutkowski will challenge in the 100 (1:06.86) and 200 breaststroke (2:33.21). Sarah Heitkamp headlines the women’s roster posting four top-15 times on the MWC Honor Roll. She ranks tenth in the 200 backstroke (2:23.30) while ranking 11th in the 100 backstroke (1:06.67) and 12th in the 100 butterfly (1:04.84).

To watch a live broadcast of the championships and to follow the live results please visit the 2013 MWC Swimming & Diving Championships page. You can also buy championship gear at the MWC Appearal website which also includes different memorabilia and apparel.