Storm men close productive weekend at Liberal Arts Championships

ELSAH, Ill. – The Simpson men's swimming and diving team turned in seven top-15 efforts and made a dent in the school's all-time top performances list, closing the 2015-16 season at the Liberal Arts Championships last weekend at Principia College.

Kyle McKim turned in the top individual finish, placing eighth and just missing all-Iowa Conference recognition in the 100 breaststroke to lead the Storm, who finished eighth with 178 points.

"I was very happy with our performance over the weekend," head coach Tom Caccia said. "We had a terrific showing, making it back to consolations and finals in several events we weren't projected to. We saw many seniors close out their season on a high note and I'm very proud of the way we attacked the meet."

McKim was one of those seniors.

The two-time defending IIAC champion in the 100 breaststroke, McKim placed third among conference competitors in the event this season, just outside of all-conference contention. He touched the wall in 1:00.97, less than a second off his school-record 1:00.20 set last season.

Highlights

• McKim added a 10th-place finish in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.79).
• Nicholas Collison had a memorable performance at his first Liberal Arts Championship, posting a pair of No. 2 times in school history. He placed 11th in the 200 backstroke (2:06.68) and 18th in the 100 backstroke (58.34). He added a 24th-place effort in the 200 IM (2:13.39), the No. 3 time in school history.
• Zack Lindeberg posted the No. 2 time in school history in the 400 IM, placing 13th (4:59.17).
• Matthew Van Brogen posted the No. 2 time in school history in the 200 butterfly, placing 19th (2:20.70).
• Dylan Gray placed 19th in the 100 freestyle, setting a new personal-best (50.29).
• The 800 freestyle relay of Michael Reuter, Scott Wailes, James Tillison and Collison placed eighth in 7:57.13, the third-best time in school history and a season-best by 20 seconds.
• The 400 medley relay of Collison, McKim, Reuter and Gray swam the No. 2 time in school history, placing ninth (3:47.47).
• The 200 medley relay of Collison, McKim, Gray and Tillison swan the No. 2 time in school history, placing ninth (1:42.91).

Team Standings
1. Franklin, 783; 2. Luther, 522; 3. Nebraska Wesleyan, 508; 4. Illinois Tech, 445; 5. Coe, 311; 6. Loras, 289; 7. Morningside, 251; 8. Simpson, 178; 9. Principia, 149