INAUGURAL A-R-C SWIM & DIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Coe swimming and diving welcomed four schools from across the American Rivers Conference to the Coe natatorium for the frst-ever A-R-C Swim & Dive Championships in mid-February. The Kohawks hosted Luther College, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University and Simpson College in a three-day competition that featured numerous school and conference record-breaking performances from Coe and its fellow competitors. Women’s team members Megan Norris ’24 and Margaret Rhodes ’26 made the biggest splash for Coe, earning the diver and swimmer of the meet honors following the action. Norris, who made her second-straight appearance at the NCAA Diving Regional following the championships, earned the female diver of the year award, sweeping the one meter and three meter competitions. Rhodes picked up the female swimmer of the year honor after an impressive weekend which saw her earn three individual all-conference honors and four relay all-conference honors.

In total, Coe’s men’s and women’s teams earned eight frst-place fnishes and set eight new school records. Lauren Pio ’23 was responsible for three of those school-best marks, turning in record times in the 400 individual medley (IM), 200 IM and 200 freestyle to cap of her excellent Kohawk career. The Coe men were led by the senior tandem of Luke Baldwin ’23 and Zach Kolker ’23 who combined for six podium fnishes and three school records. Baldwin secured three podium fnishes, taking frst in the 200 breaststroke and second in the 200 and 400 individual medley. Kolker registered three school records in his fnal collegiate competition, posting new school-best times in the 100 butterfy, 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke. The Mount Vernon, Iowa, native also posted a new conference record in the 100 backstroke, registering a time of 50.25 seconds en route to a gold medal fnish. Following the conclusion of the A-R-C Championships, the Kohawk coaching staf of Bobby Kelley, Igor Sanchez Portillo ’23 and Tony Kramer were recognized as the women’s staf of the year.

Norris highlighted the end of Coe’s season at the DIII Region II Diving Championships in Atlanta, Georgia. She fnished seventh in the one meter and 11th in the three meter competition, fnishing just 34.50 points shy of the frst-place fnisher. The Kohawks had three studentathletes honored by the College Sports Communicators at the end of the campaign with Norris, Pio and Kolker being named to the academic all-district team.