GRINNELL, Iowa -- Jackson Bertman grabbed his first Midwest Conference title Friday on the opening day of the Midwest Conference Championships at Osgood Pool.
    Bertman, a first-year athlete, took the diving title on the 3-meter board with a score of 407.35. Bertman took the title over Grinnell College's Sam Heller, who was second with a score of 376.15. Lawrence's AJ Ulwelling grabbed a third-place finish as he compiled a score of 288.75.
    Led by Bertman's title, Lawrence is fourth in the team standings with 103 points.
    The other top finishes for the Vikings on the day came from Lawrence's two relays teams.
    The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Keegan Mencke, Eamon Rougvie, Aaron Harris and Davis Wukovits took fifth in 1:29.31. The 400 medley relay team of Leighton Frater, Alex Bemben, Harris and Wukovits was fifth in 3:36.35.
    On the women's side, the 400 medley relay team posted the day's top finish. The team of Mattie Letendre, Emily Hornung, Stella Macfarlane and Irina Starostin raced to third place in 4:07.12. The same team of Letendre, Hornung, Macfarlane and Starostin grabbed fourth place in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:43.09.
    The top individual finisher for the Vikings was diver Chloe VandHey, who was eighth in 1-meter diving with a score of 278.00.
    The Lawrence women are in sixth place with 76 points.
    The championships run through Sunday at Grinnell College.