Gustavus Adolphus senior swimmer Whitaker Davis has been named MIAC Men’s Swimmer of the Week for his standout performance at the Grinnell Invitational held in Grinnell, Iowa this past weekend. Davis matched his season-best by recording four individual event victories at the meet. He also contributed to the wins of three separate relay events, helping the Gusties to score 1312.5 points and win the meet. Each race that Davis took part in set a new pool record in Grinnell’s Russell K. Osgood Pool.
Davis, a native of Palatine, Ill., displayed his dominance in the freestyle events; tallying pool record wins in the 200, 500, and 1650. He swam a 1:45.24 in the 200 free, a 4:40.32 in the 500 free, and a 16:50.50 in the 1650 free. Davis’s fourth individual victory came in the 200 butterfly when he touched the wall in a pool record 2:01.94. He was also a member of the first place 400 free relay (3:35.47), 800 free relay (7:15.91), and 400 medley relay (3:35.47) teams.
It is the first time this season and first time in his career that Whitaker Davis has earned MIAC Swimmer of the Week recognition. Davis has been on a path of destruction since registering three wins the St. Olaf dual on Nov. 14th, 2010. Since then, he has won at least three individual events at every meet he has competed, including a four-win weekend at the Falcon Invite before Christmas break on Dec. 3-4. Whitaker currently holds a top-three time in the MIAC in five events. He ranks first in the 1000 free (9:46.87), second in the 200 free (1:43.78), 500 free (4:39.53), and 1650 free (16:23.47), and third in the 200 butterfly (1:59.25).
The Gustavus swimming and diving team will compete in a dual against MSU-Mankato on Friday, Jan. 28, at 5:00 p.m. in St. Peter, Minn.