(Photo courtesy of The Buzz archive)

Davenport, IOWA – The season ended on a high note for some of the swimming Bees earning All-American awards at the NAIA National Championships held at Columbus, Georgia. 

Earning her third straight All-American honor in the 200-yard individual medley and a time of 2:09.08, Leyre Antoñanzas from Spain, led the women’s team alongside Bridget O’Grady , who had the top finish for the queen Bees placing 6th in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:04.81. They led the women’s team to an 11th-place finish during nationals.

On the other hand, Egoitz Muñoz earned honorable mentions for the 400-yard medley relay, the 200-yard medley relay, and the 200-yard freestyle relay. Alongside Mikhi Hassim who also added an honorable mention for the 800-yard freestyle relay. They led the men’s team to a sixth-place finish during nationals.

(Photo courtesy of Molly Duehr)

Antoñanzas, a sophomore, reflects on the season as she believes, “It has not been the best season” for her. Despite that, she feels “grateful” she was “allowed to compete again in nationals after what she considers a “rough season in the water.”

(Photo Courtesy of Molly Duehr)

Despite this feeling, Antoñanzas considers her experience at nationals to be “pretty positive and seeing the teams cheering for each other makes nationals an enjoyable, fun competition with a different atmosphere compared to the local meets.”

O’Grady says, “A well-needed break” is important before getting back into the pool. She added she is “on a team with some of the most motivating and supporting individuals. All my teammates have a lot to be proud of from this past season and I look forward to another successful season for all of us starting next fall!”

Meanwhile, Muñoz`s second nationals experience was “a very good experience with my teammates, it has been amazing how we have all swam and we have achieved that 6th position, improving the position of last year when we were 7th.” 

He added, “Coach Ramsey has been a great influence on my performance this season, her way of being and training is perfect. She is very open to talk when you have problems, and she is very empathetic.”

Hassim also thinks that Coach Ramsey, “has had a defiantly major influence in the performance improvement this season. She had constantly researched and focused on ways to help benefit each of the swimmers as well as keep us motivated throughout the season.”

Heading into Coach Ramsey`s fifth season, she has managed to build a close relationship with her swimmers and be a big influence on the team. As Antoñanzas says, “She is a fundamental part of all the process, she is always able to bring out the best version of myself in and out the water.”