IIT FRESHMAN SWIMMER WINS NAIA NATIONAL TITLE

Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) freshman Ryan Feuerstein won the national championship in the 200-yard butterfly at the NAIA championship meet March 3-7, 2004, in Lawrence, Kan. The freshman from Altamonte Springs, Fla., finished with a time of 1 minute, 50.73 seconds, almost a full second ahead of his next challenger and earning him a spot on the NAIA all-American list for the second time.

In addition, coach Rob Bond was named NAIA men’s swimming coach of the year, in honor of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams’ best seasons in IIT history. The men’s team finished fourth overall, and the women’s team finished eighth in the national competition. The teams combined for five all-American honors (including two double-winners) and broke 29 team records during the 2003-04 season.

Feuerstein earned two all-American honors for his first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly and a third-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly.

Freshman diver Julia Northrup (Arvada, Colo.) earned an all-American honor for her third-place finish in the 3-meter platform.

Senior diver Matt Robertson (Olathe, Kan.) earned two all-American honors for second-place finishes in both the 3-meter and 1-meter platforms.

“I’m really proud of the kids for their hard work in getting to nationals and swimming hard once they’re there,” said Bond, whose honor was based on a vote of coaches and improvement from the previous season. “The success of the kids is what brought recognition on me,” said Bond. “It all falls back on their swimming and having a good time.”

Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting technological university awarding degrees in the sciences, mathematics and engineering, as well as architecture, psychology, design, business and law. IIT’s interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum prepares the university’s 6,200 students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and culturally diverse global workplace.