< Marschall led the men’s swimming and diving team to a third place finish at the MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships, held last weekend at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, the highest finish in Knights history.
Marschall won three events, setting meet records in the three events that he won. He set a meet record in the 200 breaststroke in prelims and won the finals in 2:03.28, three hundredths of a second slower prelim time. Marschall also broke his own meet record in the 400 IM, winning by more than ten seconds.
Marschall’s greatest performance of the meet was the first day of the championships where he swam the fastest 200 IM in Division III this year in 1:49.72.
On the women’s side, Kate Alexander ’10 was again named Swimmer of the Year as she won three individual races, the 200 breaststroke (in a meet record of 2:22.75), the 200 IM and 400 IM, she was also a member of the winning 200 medley relay team. Alexander’s strong performance also led to a third place overall finish by the Knights, who finished third last year as well.
The Knights had a strong start to the second evening of finals, winning the first four events, starting off with Alexander, Kale Zicafoose ‘11, Kaarin Taylor ‘09 and Jen Gratz ‘08 taking first place in the 200 medley relay followed by Alexander’s win in the 400 IM. Taylor then won the 100 butterfly and Karin Brown ’08 finished the strong start with a win in the 100 freestyle.
In addition to Marschall’s strong performance John Knapp ’09 won the 3-meter diving contest and Eric Brenner ’11 finished in third place. Knapp was named Co-diver of the Year.
Marschall and Alexander will continue in preparation for the NCAA Division III Swimming Championships that will be taking place in March.