Victory lap

(Left to right): Emily Anderson, Lexi Scharmer, Erin Connolly, Clare Slagel and coach Lance Huber (Click on photo for larger image)

Four Luther College swimmers got a chance to root for one another at the NCAA Division III National Swim Meet--and they're still doing that now that they have returned to campus with a bevy of honors.

Luther College women's swimmer Clare Slagel took first place in the 200 backstroke and placed third in the 100-yard backstroke.  The Luther College 200-yard medley relay team of Erin Connolly, Clare Slagel, Lexi Scharmer and Emily Anderson earned All-American honors by finishing in 7th place and the 400-yard medley relay team of the same four swimmers finished in 10th place, winning honorable mention all-American honors.  When Luther's scores in all of the events were totaled, the Norse finished in 14th place overall.

On Wednesday afternoon the four were interviewed by Luther College sportscaster Darin Svensen, telling him a big highlight was the final race, the 200-yard medley relay.  Emily Anderson says knowing the event was the last event allowed her to make the maximum effort.  Erin Connolly says the shorter relay allowed her to go all-out, knowing she had to swim 50 yards instead of 100.

Lexi Scharmer says it helped that Luther's 200-yard medley relay team always had the same swimmers on it, so the group gained experience during the season.  Clare Slagel told Svenson, "They always pushed me every day in practice."

Luther women's swimming and diving coach Lance Huber agreed that having four swimmers at Nationals was a positive.  "They feed of one another--and that helped," he told Darin Svenson.