The Grinnell College women’s swimming and diving team made a splash at the Grinnell Invite on Jan. 17, delivering an outstanding performance and bringing home the win.
The Pioneers came out on top at 893.5 points, beating runner-up Nebraska Wesleyan University by nearly 200 points.
The Invite featured 11 teams from across the Midwest, making it one of the largest meets of the season. Across two days, the Pioneers’ skills were on full display, as swimmers scored points in nearly every event. The relay squads turned in particularly strong performances, with both the 200 and 400 freestyles finishing near the top and contributing to the team’s winning total.
Coming off an intense winter training period, the Pioneers focused on team support across events, said head coach Matt Hedman. This was highlighted by a standout performance from distance swimmer Nina Lyons `29, who captured first place in the 1650-yard freestyle and swam the league’s fastest time of the season.
Hedman emphasized the team’s attitude as a big takeaway from this weekend. “We’re coming right off really hard winter break training, so I thought the team handled where they were at really well, whether they were swimming really fast or not so fast,” he said.
Despite several swimmers dealing with minor injuries or illness, Hedman said that the team stayed positive and flexible, adjusting lineups as needed and cheering on every teammate. The Grinnell swimmers’ energy was especially evident on deck, with Hedman claiming that they were consistently the loudest supporters throughout both days of competition.
“If you have that support system, it’s much easier to step behind the blocks with confidence, knowing you have people cheering you on,” Hedman said.
Lyons displayed that combination of focus and team spirit in her 1650-yard freestyle. “Because it’s a 20-minute race, you have a lot of time to drift,” Lyons said. “I’ve really been working on staying present during my races, and the more I stay present, the more I can push myself.” Her approach paid off as she placed first and earned Midwest Conference Performer of the Week. Lyons credited much of her growth to the supportive environment at Grinnell and on her team. “Everyone’s pushing each other, but people are also really good at supporting your wins and your losses,” she said.
Lyons said the Grinnell Invite was also another step in adjusting to her first collegiate season. Making the jump from high school to college swimming has come with longer practices, higher expectations and a heavier training load, but Lyons said she feels it has helped her grow both physically and mentally as a swimmer. She credits the team environment with helping her stay motivated during demanding weeks of training. “Coming here has definitely been an adjustment, but I’ve been pushed every single day by people, which is really fun,” she said.
A few other individual champs on the Grinnell team include Samantha Cook `27 in the 200 free, Sarah Lopez `26 in the 200 fly and Alex Kruse `29 in the 3-meter dive.
With only a few meets remaining before the Midwest Conference Championships, Hedman said the Pioneers are focused on staying healthy, sharpening technique and maintaining their momentum. “Our biggest focus right now is peaking at the right time for the conference meet,” Hedman said.
