Storm set six school records, place 6th at Grinnell
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Simpson men's swimming team set six school records en route to a sixth place finish of seven teams at the Grinnell Invitational on Jan. 18-19.
Grinnell won the meet with 1,253.5 points, followed by Gustavus Adolphus with 1,009.5. Simpson's 211 points beat out Coe, which scored 174.
"The team had some challenges to overcome this weekend," interim head coach Eric Crawford said. "We are in the middle of our sprint phase and the team went into the meet really tired. The team had to learn how to swim fast even though their bodies were exhausted. It was a true test of mental strength. Friday morning the team struggled a bit to find strength, but by the end of finals Friday the team learned to push themselves faster."
Kyle McKim placed 11th in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 800 freestyle relay team of McKim, Stephen Schmidt, Nathan Schneider and Scott Wailes also took 11th to lead the Storm's performances on the weekend.
McKim reset his own school record in the 200 breaststroke, finishing in 2:24.76. He also helped set program records in the 800 freestyle relay (8:18.30) with Schmidt, Schneider and James Tillison and the 200 medley relay (1:49.24) with Schmidt, Schneider and Wailes.
Tillison set Simpson's other individual school record, swimming the 1,650 freestyle in 19:24.58.
Simpson's other school records came in relays. The 400 freestyle relay of Schneider, Schmidt, Wailes and Tillison touched in 3:39.76, and the 400 medley relay team of Schmidt, Tillison, Wailes and Steven Best finished in 4:10.59.
"When swimming as tired as they were this weekend, it really takes an entire team to help lift one another up," Crawford said. "There were a few races where our times weren't quite where they normally are and it wears you down mentally. But the team lifted each other's confidence up during Friday's Finals and they accomplished some great things. Not all teams have synergy like ours does."
The Storm host Iowa Lakes Community College in the final home dual of the season on Friday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m.
