October 29, 2013
Hayley Cardinal - Lawrence University
Sophomore - Lombard, Ill.
Cardinal won two events and swam on a winning relay team as Lawrence opened its season with an impressive 143-54 dual meet victory over Beloit. Cardinal won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:10.78 and took first in the 200 individual medley in 2:24.94. She also was part of the winning 200 medley relay team, which took first in 1:56.55.

November 5, 2013
Madeline Bruce - Knox College
Freshman - Dunlap, Ill.
Bruce began her college swimming career with a pair of record-breaking performances in the Prairie Fire’s 88-20 win against Eureka College at home on November 2. Bruce won three events: the 100 yard butterfly, the 100 yard freestyle, and the 200 yard IM. Her times of 1:00.99 in the 100 fly and 2:21.34 in the 200 IM broke pool records in those events that stood since 1996 and 2000, respectively. Bruce also swam on Knox’s winning 200 yard medley relay team.

November 12, 2013
Beth Tsuha - Grinnell College
Freshman - Kurtistown, Hawaii
Tsuha kicked off her collegiate swimming career in strong fashion, including a victory in the 200-yard freestyle, during the Pioneers’ dual meet at Luther College on Saturday. She had a time of 2:00.42. Tsuha was second in the 50 freestyle in 25.74 and third in the 100 freestyle in 56.17. Additionally, she swam on the runner-up 400 freestyle relay squad that had a time of 3:44.91.

November 19, 2013
Sarah Pekar - Lake Forest College
Junior - Arlington Heights, Ill.
Pekar posted her second qualifying mark of the season Saturday and therefore qualified for the NCAA Regional Diving Meet in February. She won the 3-meter event with 278.00 points and placed second in the 1-meter competition with a score of 254.95.

November 26, 2013


December 10, 2013
Chloe Briney - Grinnell College
Freshman - Denver, Colo.
Briney dominated at Grinnell’s own Pioneer Classic, winning six event titles as the host school claimed the team crown. She had individual wins in the 50-yard, 100 and 200 freestyles with times of 25.21, 55.55 and 2:00.75, respectively. The latter mark was a meet record, shattering the previous record of 2:01.25 set last year. Additionally, Briney led the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relay teams to victory in times of 1:42.32, 3:44.87 and 8:06.88, respectively.

January 14, 2014
Hayley Levin - Grinnell College
Sophomore - Highland Park, Ill.
Levin placed first in the 200-yard individual medley in the Pioneers’ dual meet with Connecticut College at Naples, Fla. She had a time of 2:16.05, which ranks second in the MWC. Levin also placed third in the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.12 and was part of the third-place 200 medley relay team that finished in 1:57.32.

January 21, 2014
Madeline Bruce - Knox College
Freshman - Dunlap, Ill.
Bruce won three individual events against swimmers from Monmouth College and Eureka College on January 18 at Monmouth. Bruce finished first in the 100 yard freestyle, the 100 yard butterfly, and the 100 yard backstroke to help the Prairie Fire earn a split against Eureka (147-31) and Monmouth (55-145). Bruce has won 13 individual events this season and owns six top 10 Midwest Conference times, including the top time in the 100 yard butterfly (1:00.99).

January 28, 2014
Alyssa Szczepaniak - Carroll University
Freshman - Chicago, Ill.
Szczepaniak lead the Carroll University women’s swimming and diving team at the 2014 Wisconsin Private College Championships hosted by Carthage College. The Pioneers finished third in the 5-team field, with Szczepaniak, a freshman from Chicago, Ill. (Mother Mcauley), claiming top honors in the 100 backstroke (1:00.75) and 200 backstroke (2:14.36) while swimming the lead leg on the winning 200 medley relay team (1:53.58). 

February 4, 2014
Felicia Bender - Grinnell College
Freshman - Lees Summit, Mo.
Bender came up big for the Pioneers as they swept Simpson and the Nebraska Swim Club in duals Friday, and then defeated Coe on Saturday. Bender won five events over the weekend, including Friday victories in the 200-yard and 500 freestyles and as part of the 200 medley relay team. Her 200 freestyle time of 2:01.39 ranks fifth in the MWC this season, as does the 200 medley relay team’s clocking of 1:55.61. She went 5:28.49 in the 500 free. On Saturday, Bender won the 1000 freestyle in 11:13.36 – which ranks sixth in the league – and 100 butterfly in 1:03.54. She also swam on the runner-up 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay squads.