Pioneers Fall to Connecticut College in Naples, Fla.

The Grinnell College men's swimming and diving team returned to action following a lengthy layoff when it took on Connecticut College in a dual meet in Naples, Fla., on January 5th. The Pioneers fell as a team, 146-90, but finished with several top-three finishes.

The 200 yard medley relay "A" team of Tommy Olson '10, Mike Weslander '09, Nate Kimball '07, and Kevin Wood '07 captured a second-place finish (1:44.66), while the "B" and "C" teams took fourth and fifth.

Wood also took third in the 50 freestyle (22.79) as Weslander captured third in the 200 IM (2:10.32). Pat Blachly '09 hit the finish line in 1:51.35 to take third in the 200 freestlye, while also grabbing the third spot in the 100 butterfly (58.91). Kimball and Olson finished third and fourth respectively in the 100 backstroke for the Pioneers as Nate Wittnam '09 brought home a third-place finish in the 500 freestyle (5:12.16).

The 200 freestlye relay "A" team of Olson, Sean Warlick '08, Dan Neely '09, and Wittnam took second (1:32.19) as the "B" team of Bud Baumgartner '07, Patrick Thomas '10, Zach Wegermann '08, and Jon Willuhn finished third (1:38.26).

Grinnell will be back in action this Friday and Saturday when they host the Grinnell College Invitational. Starting times for Friday are scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and at 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.