Feb. 26, 2014

By Andrea Sidlauskas

The Warhawks men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams raced their way into the history books Saturday, as both squads matched program-bests with third-place finishes in the WIAC Championship meet.

“The other teams in our conference are very, very strong,” head coach Joel Rollings said. “It is by far the strongest public school conference in the country. We have more conference records than just about any other team, and I think that says a lot about the quality of our student-athletes.”

On the women’s side, senior Lauren Lanphere became only the second Warhawk in program history to receive the title of the league’s Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete.

“Receiving this recognition is important because it shows that Whitewater’s student athletes can be successful not only in athletics, but in academics as well,” Lanphere said. “Swimming is a big part of my life, but it is not the only thing I can be successful in.”

Junior Amy Spaay swept her competition, taking the top spot in each breaststroke event for the second consecutive year.

The women broke 11 school records of the 20 events in the three-day championship meet, adding four league titles and seven NCAA-qualifying performances.

For the men, senior Ben Wynn was named the Max Spanger Scholar Athlete, becoming the second Warhawk to receive the title.

“Earning the scholar athlete award was an honor,” Wynn said. “A lot of accomplishments are reached because of the people surrounding that person, and it is not any different for me.”

Junior Joe Devroy won the 200-meter backstroke event, setting a WIAC record to receive his third-straight league title in the event. Senior John Devroy also won his event for the third year in a row, setting a program record in the 200-meter butterfly event.

The men added five league titles, broke six school records and two WIAC meet records, and had seven NCAA-qualifying performances during the three-day championship meet.

“The team’s overall performance was fantastic,” Wynn said. “This is the best team the men’s side has ever had.”

While numerous ’Hawks displayed NCAA-qualifying performances, the teams must wait until the end of the week to find out which athletes will be able to compete in the NCAA Championships, which are scheduled for March 19-22 in Indianapolis, Ind.

The selection is based on individual performance, and Lanphere said the top 16 times in the division will qualify for the event at nationals. Although no one is guaranteed a spot, she said she believes Spaay and the relay team of Kendall Thompson, Spaay, Kayla Martin and Kelsey Kohlbeck will make an appearance.