First row (L to R): Coach Ahlbrecht, Bill Farrell, Ron Bornetun, Mark Storhaug, Kevin McDermott, Joel Olander, Dave Thomas. Second row: Mark O’Neill, Gary Stieber, Bill Gilman, Bill Schulberg, Shayne Isaacson, Paul Schaper, Jeff Siverhus (manager). Third row: Steve Carter, Tom Hilton, Malachy McCarthy, Steve Boss, John Miller, Jon Schmitz, Dan Roberts, Steven Pelkey. Not pictured: Dan Elbers, Scott Hjelseth, Bruce Hunstad, Tony Kukich, John Markgraf and Bruce Sha.

The 1979-80 Bemidji State men’s swimming and diving team, under the direction of BSU Hall of Fame coach Lee Ahlbrecht, posted an 11-1 record and established four event records en route to a first-place finish at the Northern Intercollegiate Conference meet with a league-record score of 701. Eighteen members of the team garnered All-NIC honors, finishing first, second or third, either as swimmers or divers, which included 11 individual or relay conference champions.

BSU advanced to the NAIA Championships in Whitewater, Wisc., where the team placed fourth. Nine team members finished in the top six in their events and were named American College Coaches’ Association All-Americans. They were Ron Bornetun, Kevin McDermott, Steve Boss, Paul Schaper, Joel Olander, Mark Storhaug, Shayne Isaacson, Mal McCarthy and John Markgraf.

Seven people scored points for finishing between seventh and twelfth in individual or relay events and earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention accolades. They were: Bornetun, Boss, Storhaug, Bruce Hunstad, McCarthy, McDermott and Isaacson. To conclude the season, head coach Lee Ahlbrecht was selected as NAIA Coach of the Year.