Grinnell College Athletics

Thomas Helpenstell '81 followed, and challenged Zimmerman for Grinnell honors as top diver on the swim team. Later he became another Pioneer to win a national championship. A four-year letterman, Helpenstell helped Grinnell to three Midwest Conference titles. As a rookie, the Idaho native set a Pioneer Relays three-meter record with Zimmerman at 504.95. As a sophomore the duo gave a preview to the season when they combined for one and three-meter wins at the same meet. Tom went on to win the one-meter event at the league meet with a score of 152.20. Helpenstell helped the Pioneers to 15th place at the NCAA Division III national meet by placing sixth in the three-meter event with a 379.35 and 12th off the one-meter board at 350.60. A repeat trip to the nationals as a junior saw Grinnell's top diver win the Division III one-meter event with a school-record 452.00 points. He also won All-America honors, finishing fifth off the three-meter board at 412.30. During his senior season Helpenstell won the conference one-meter title with a record 189.50 points. At the national meet he took All-America honors again with a ninth-place finish off the three-meter board. He also finished 16th in one-meter diving. In all, Helpenstell won 25 diving events and five All-America citations during his career. Helpenstell, who received a medical degree from the University of Washington, is an orthopedic surgeon in Olympia, Wash.