Helm named GLIAC Athlete of the Week for fourth time
BAY CITY – For the fourth time this season, junior Rachel Helm has been named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Women’s Swim & Dive Athlete of the Week.
The junior picked up three individual victories and was part of a winning relay to help guide the Wildcats to their first-ever victory over Division I University of Wisconsin Green Bay on Saturday. Helm set NCAA B-Cut times in both the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard freestyle as well.
In her first race, she joined senior Becca Arakelian, junior Madelyn Irelanand sophomore Margaret Vaitkus to capture the meet’s first event, the 200-yard medley relay, in a time of 1:46.05.
The junior standout followed it with times of 55.84 in the 100-yard backstroke, and 51.84 in the 100-yard freestyle. She concluded her day by claiming the 100-yard butterfly with a posted time of 56.50.
Helm and the Wildcats are back in action Saturday in the PEIF Pool as they host their annual Intrasquad and Skins meet where they will also honor the team’s seniors. The team will return to competition Wednesday, February 20 in Cleveland, Ohio for the GLIAC Championships.