MADISON, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) office announced the 2021 All-WIAC men's swimming and diving awards on Thursday. Michael Bylander (Jr. - Baxter, MN/Brainerd) was named Men's Swimmer of the Year and Ben Keller (Fr. - Cedarburg, WI) was named Men's Newcomer of the Year.
Bylander set a school record with his NCAA Division III-leading swim in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:57.84. He also established a pool record in the 200-yard individual medley with a conference-leading time of 1:51.28. Bylander set another pool record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 49.46 seconds. All three times against UW-Stevens Point on March 6, were the fastest in the WIAC this season.
Keller owned the top time in the conference in the 500-yard freestyle at 4:45.02 against UW-Stevens Point on March 6. Keller also contributed to the 400-yard medley relay team that set a pool record in the same meet. He finished in the top three in the WIAC in the 1,000-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard individual medley. A Newcomer of the Year is defined as a student-athlete who used his first season of participation in men's swimming & diving this season.
Matthew Poppitz (So. - Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) was also named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
