IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa swimming and diving team announced its annual team awards Wednesday night at Hotel Vetro in downtown Iowa City.<\/p>\n
Redshirt sophomore Kenneth Mende<\/strong>, junior Jerzy Twarowski<\/strong>, and sophomore Will Brenner<\/strong> took home the top honors for the men, while senior Emma Sougstad<\/strong> and senior Calli Head<\/strong> earned the top honors for the women for the 2016-17 season.<\/p>\n Mende and Twarowski shared the men’s swimming MVP award. Mende swam to a school record in the 200-yard backstroke (1:42.19), while Twarowski downed his own record in the 100 fly (46.43). The duo also members of the 200- and 400-medley relays that placed seventh and eighth, respectively, at the Big Ten Championships.<\/p>\n Brenner earned the Wentworth “Lobby” Lobdell Award, given to the team’s top diver, for the first time in his career. The Ypsilanti, Michigan, native broke his school record off the 1-meter springboard (368.00) and finished 10th in the event at the Big Ten Championships.<\/p>\n Sougstad earned the women’s swimming MVP honor for a second straight season after earning first-team All-America honors in the 100 breaststroke at the 2017 NCAA Championships with a time of 58.79 seconds — the fifth-fastest time in Big Ten history. The Forest City, Iowa, native was also an NCAA qualifier in the 200 IM and 200 breast and she swam to five top-seven finishes at the 2017 Big Ten Championships. Sougstad finishes her Hawkeye career with nine school records.<\/p>\n Head was the recipient of the women’s diving MVP honor after earning first-team All-America honors off the platform (292.20) at the NCAA Championships. The Fox Point, Wisconsin, native was Iowa’s first All-American off the platform since 1999. Head also finished seventh off the platform at the Big Ten Championships.<\/p>\n Sophomore Jack Smith<\/strong> garnered the Wally Ris Memorial Award for swimming the fastest 100-freestyle time during the season. The England native posted an NCAA “B” qualifying time and broke the school record with a time of 43.15 at the Big Ten Championships.<\/p>\n Senior Kyle Patnode<\/strong> earned the Jim Marshall Award, handed out to a male senior who contributed to the team to the best of his athletic ability. The Chicago native was third on the team in the 100 fly (47.99) in 2016-17.<\/p>\n Senior Serena Wanasek<\/strong> was the recipient of the Alison Pennington Haddon Strength of Character Award, presented to a team member who exemplifies the qualities of integrity, authenticity, dedication, work ethic, perseverance, loyalty, encouragement, and leadership. Wanasek led the team in the 500 free, swimming a career-best time of 4:54.14 at the Big Ten Championships.<\/p>\n Senior Jackson Halsmer<\/strong> received the Irving B. Weber Leadership Award, which is presented annually to a team member who displays outstanding leadership. Halsmer, a team captain, was a 2015 NCAA qualifier and represented Iowa at the 2016 Olympic Trials in Omaha. Halsmer swam NCAA “B” qualifying times in the 50 and 100 free as a senior.<\/p>\n One individual from both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams earned the Strength and Conditioning Achievement Award. Freshmen Thelma Strandberg<\/strong> was honored for the women, while Mende was the men’s recipient.<\/p>\n Men’s Award Winners Women’s Award Winners
\nCo-Men’s Swimming MVP Award: Kenneth Mende<\/strong> and Jerzy Twarowski<\/strong>
\nWentworth “Lobby” Lobdell Award: Will Brenner<\/strong>
\nIrving B. Weber Award: Jackson Halsmer<\/strong>
\nWally Ris Memorial Award: Jack Smith<\/strong>
\nJim Marshall Award: Kyle Patnode<\/strong>
\nStrength and Conditioning Award: Kenneth Mende<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWomen’s Swimming MVP Award: Emma Sougstad<\/strong>
\nWomen’s Diving MVP Award: Calli Head<\/strong>
\nAlison Pennington Haddon Strength of Character Award: Serena Wanasek<\/strong>
\nStrength and Conditioning Award: Thelma Strandberg<\/strong><\/p>\n