The UNI swimming and diving teams traveled to Iowa City last week to conclude their season by taking part in the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)  Championships. The Panthers placed fifth altogether with multiple award winners and honorable mentions in the award ceremonies.

UNI’s Taylor Hogan came up big this weekend taking the championship in the three-meter diving finals. Hogan entered the finals in third place but would not be there for long. She dove for a near-perfect back 2 ½ pike to score 54.00 points, giving her a total of 277.50 points and the championship. Hogan’s diving gave the school their first diving title since 2011 and their first ever title in the three-meter. Hogan won the Missouri Valley Conference’s Diver of the Year Award with her performances this year. Diving Coach of the Year went to UNI coach Bethany Hovland.

Amber Finke of UNI placed third in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes. Finke received All-MVC honors for the 100 meter race. She finished the season by receiving the Elite 17 award in the final ceremonies. Lily Ernst swam the 200 fly, breaking her previous school record of 2:02.97 by swimming an impressive 2:03.50 and placing fifth in the competition.

Many of the swimmers and divers excelled in the championships. Multiple athletes swam their personal bests against some of the best that the MVC  has to offer. Ultimately, the Panthers scored a grand total of 431.5 points in the Conference Championships, concluding a great season for the team.