Brenda Dahl-Erickson was a national champion backstroker for the Blugolds and helped the team win an NAIA team championship in 1983 and finish second in 1984.

As a freshman in 1982-83, Dahl-Erickson made an immediate impact as she won both the 100 and 200 backstroke at the conference meet in both conference and school record time. The Blugolds more than doubled the team score of runner-up UW-Green Bay in winning the conference championship. The next year, Dahl-Erickson repeated her wins in the 100 and 200 backstroke as the Blugolds edged Green Bay by two points for the team title.

In the 1983 NAIA Nationals in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Dahl-Erickson shattered the national record in winning the 200 backstroke. She also broke the school record in placing fourth in the 100 backstroke. Her 46 points at the nationals helped the Blugolds edged Pacific Lutheran for the team championship.

The following year, she broke the school record in the 100 backstroke and won the national championship in that event while finishing third in the 200 backstroke. She contributed 48 teams points as the Blugolds were national runner-up.

Dahl-Erickson did not return to the swim program after her sophomore season but graduated from the university in 1988 with a degree in physical education.

She has been involved in aquatics for 24 years, teaching and coaching on all levels. She worked on the physical education staff at Eau Claire North High School for seven years. She currently teaches Red Cross CPR and First Aid to the district staff and has done that for the last 14 years. She is certified as an instructor in CPR/First Aid, Lifeguard Training, Safety Training for Swim Coaches, AED-Oxygen Administration, Water Safety Instruction and Prevention of Disease Transmission. She is a certified pool operator which she put to use at the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club for 14 seasons. She recently started another career at the Safety and Respect Driving School.

She and her husband Tony operate a hobby farm and have two children: McKenzie, age 9; and Karly, age 6.

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