ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Mikayla Von Wahlde continued her impressive first season with the College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team Saturday afternoon.
Von Wahlde – who already has three times in the top 10 in school history – picked up two more wins Saturday to lead CSB against a tough St. Kate’s team. For her big weekend, Von Wahlde is this week’s CSB Athlete of the Week. This is the second time this season the first year has won the weekly award.
In her first individual event of the day Saturday in St. Paul, Von Wahlde won the 100 backstroke in 1:00.43. She finished just over a half-second faster than the second-place finisher. Her second individual win of the day was even more impressive, as she won the 200 backstroke by more than three seconds. She won the event in 2:14.19, and the second-place finisher came in in 2:17.68.
Saturday’s wins marked the eighth and ninth of Von Wahlde’s collegiate career. She has four victories in both the 100 and 200 backstroke so far this season, and she also won the 100 freestyle at the Hamline Invite.
As well as picking up a pair of individual wins Saturday afternoon, Von Wahlde also helped CSB to a pair of top-three relay finishes. She was part of the second-place 400 medley relay team, which finished in 4:15.53, and the third-place 400 freestyle relay team, which touched the wall in 3:50.79.
After one semester with the CSB swim and dive team, Von Wahlde holds the school record in the 100 IM, and is third in school history in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. She is currently has the best 100 backstroke time in the MIAC and is third in the league in the 200 backstroke. She is also in the top 15 in the 50 and 100 freestyle races.
Von Wahlde and her teammates are off now until they head to Cape Coral, Fla., for the team’s annual training trip. CSB returns to MIAC action Friday, Jan. 11, when it travels to Hamline for a conference dual.
