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Bladel
Josh Purnell

Bladel Wins First-Ever Leatherneck Madness Bracket Challenge

The senior swimmer concluded his collegiate career with an extra accolade.

All month long Western Illinois Athletics asked its fans, "What was the most impressive individual performance of the 2019-20 season?"

Votes have been tallied, and in resounding fashion, Brennan Bladel won the first-ever Leatherneck Madness Bracket Challenge with a four-medal performance at the Summit League Swimming & Diving Championships. 

Brennan claimed hardware as a member of Western's 200-yard medley relay as well as three on his own in the 200-yard IM, 100-yard back, and 200-yard back. 

"I hope everyone is staying safe during our current situation," he said. "I would like to thank everyone for all of the love and support they showed during the Leatherneck Madness Bracket! I want to thank my family, friends, and teammates for making these last four years so memorable."

As if the medaling wasn't enough, several of Bladel's championship efforts also etched spots in WIU's record book. He set school records in the 200-yard IM (1:49.77) and the 200-yard back (1:48.20), while his time in the 100-yard back (49.97) sits third all-time. 

Bladel closed the door on his collegiate swimming career with four bronze medals. 

The championship round of the Leatherneck Madness Bracket Challenge pit Bladel against men's soccer's Ryan DeBois. The best of three series came down to the final social media poll, and the Facebook tally went to the Bladel by a mark of 416 to 362.

The bracket challenge featured 20 performances that advanced to the next round based on votes cast via the main WIU Athletics Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. The final four also included Sam Pryor and Olivia Kaufmann of WIU women's basketball. 

2019-20 Contenders 

Mathus Etches Name Back into Record Book Twice (WSWIM)
At the 2020 Summit League Championships, Miranda Mathus jumped to ninth all-time in the 100-yard back (57.67) and 10th all-time in the 100-yard butterfly (58.86).

Beebe Shatters Course Record (WXC)
Nicole Beebe broke the Western Illinois women's cross country 6K record at the Leatherneck Open. She topped Alycia Thurston's 2012 6K record of 21:48 by blazing through the course in just 21:38.5 to win the race.

Postseason Statement (MSOC)
A member of the All-Newcomer Team, Daisuke Otsuka enjoyed his first taste of postseason play by scoring two goals in The Summit League Championships semifinal game against Omaha. 

1K Club (WBB)
Olivia Kaufmann became the 19th Leatherneck to join the program's 1,000-point club, and she accepted the invitation with a double-double performance of 19 points and 10 rebounds in the home win over Purdue Fort Wayne. 

Houston, We Have A Problem (FB)
Dennis Houston went viral and was featured on ESPN's You Got Mossed, for his leaping catch over a Southern Illinois defender. The clip garnered over 7.3K views on the @WIUFootball Twitter account. 

Rack 'Em Up (SB)
In a 6-2 win over DePaul, Abby Carlin dealt a career-high 14 strikeouts to tie for fifth-most in WIU single-game history. She tied none other than her head coach and WIU Hall of Famer Holly Van Vlymen, who recorded 14 on four different occasions between the 1999 and 2000 seasons. 

A Whole Lotta Medals (MSWIM)
Brennan Bladel helped the 200-yard medley relay team work a third-place time of 1:31.75 at the 2020 Summit League Championships -- before recording three individual podium finishes in the 200-yard IM (1:49.77, school record), 100-yard back (49.97, third in school history) and 200-yard back (1:48.20, school record).

Lights Out (BASE) 
Chandler Fochs was lights out, coming out of the pen at Mizzou. He tossed seven scoreless innings while limiting the opposition to four hits, and the appearance also marked a career-high in innings pitched. 

40 Piece, Extra Sauce (MBB)
Kobe Webster scored 40 points in Western's home finale versus Omaha to set the program's single-game record (in the Division I era).

Thurman Sets PR at Prestigious Meet (MXC)
Quintin Thurman set his 8K personal best at Pre-Nationals, with a final time of 27:29.4. The performance was more than a minute faster than his previous PR.

The Pole Vaulter (WTF)
The Leathernecks' women's indoor pole vault record sat untouched for 11 years until Tia Dorshorst's stellar performance at the 2020 Summit League Championships. She previously ranked No. 2 on WIU's indoor list, before setting the record-holding mark of 3.88 meters (12' 8.75").

Ice in Her Veins (WBB)
Sam Pryor hit the buzzer-beating basket to send the Leathernecks into double overtime at NDSU. The additional period ended with another Pryor buzzer-beater, as she secured the 79-78 one-point WIU victory.

Andrews Finds A Way (WSOC)
On a two-goal performance, Amy Andrews also scored the game-winner ('84) as Western defeated UIC, 2-1. The last time a Leatherneck scored two goals in a single match was in 2017. 

Nothing But Speed (MTF)
Johnny Dickson became the first Leatherneck in 22 years to crack 'Top 3' all-time in the men's 600-meter. Dickson currently ranks third with a 1:22.66 effort posted at the GVSU Big Meet (Friday). 

No. 1 (MSOC)
During his breakout season, Ryan DeBois came through at the right time. The junior scored the game-winner in the 89th minute at Oral Roberts to help WIU secure a share of The Summit League regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the league championships. 

School Record, Silver Medal (WTF)
Michaela Busch's senior season was riddled with injury, but it didn't stop her from breaking her indoor school record in the pentathlon. Behind 3,677 points, the performance also garnered a silver medal at the 2020 Summit League Championships.

Quick Start (WTEN)
Senior Laura Ballesteros began the fall season collecting wins out of the gates. She posted a 3-1 record in singles play and a 2-1 mark in doubles at the Olivet Nazarene Invitational. 

Spier's Breakout Performance (MGOLF)
The Babson Park, Fla., native fired a career-low 67 in the final round to secure medalist honors at the Alabama State Spring Kickoff. Wyatt Spier's 54-hole score of 205 (-11) tied for second lowest all-time in WIU program history. 

The Wall of Steckler (VB)
In the final game of the StarkVegas classic, Mackenzie Steckler proved to be the wall that took Mississippi State to five sets. The senior recorded 12 blocks (three solo) against the SEC school to rank fourth all-time in WIU's single-match history.

The Eagle Has Landed (WGOLF)
In the sixth round of the Alabama State Spring Golf Kickoff, Cassidy Jurkaites eagled on hole six en route to a round score of 79.
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