ST. PAUL, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team delivered a strong all-around performance on Saturday, Oct. 25, claiming seven event titles and 18 top three finishes, but ultimately fell in a competitive 167–132 dual meet against Macalester College at the Riley Pool.
Leading the way for CSB was junior
Haley Zelen, who continued her record-breaking season with three individual victories and another school record. Zelen's standout day began with a first-place finish in the 100 butterfly, where she broke her own school record for the third consecutive week, touching in 56.68 to better her previous mark of 57.07 set at the CSB/SJU Invitational.
She added wins in the 100 freestyle (52.85), improving her own No. 3 time in program history, and the 100 backstroke (1:01.00). Zelen also helped the Bennies to a win in the 200-medley relay, joining
Mary Morris,
Megan Bartels, and
Anna Schottler for a time of 1:50.96, the team's best mark of the season and just outside CSB's all-time top 10.
In the 200-freestyle relay, CSB took second in 1:45.92 with the team of Morris, Schottler,
Lydia Jostock, and
Jayda Alholm.
Multiple Bennies Earn Wins and Top Finishes
First-year
Josey Larson earned her first collegiate victory, winning the 200 butterfly in 2:16.40, followed by teammates
Izzy Green (fourth, 2:27.75) and
Isabella Anderson (fifth, 2:28.07).
First-year
Anna Schottler captured her first 50-freestyle title by clocking 24.98, with Jostock (fourth, 26.57) and Maddie Mojeski (fifth, 26.86) close behind. Schottler also placed second in the 500 freestyle (5:34.09), just ahead of
Morgan Stout (third, 5:35.37) and
Maddie Brynda (fourth, 5:45.92).
Junior
Mary Morris had a strong meet, winning the 200 backstroke (2:11.37) and placing second in the 200 freestyle (2:01.60) while also swimming on the winning 200-freestyle relay. Junior
Jayda Alholm added a fourth-place finish in the 200 free (2:09.30).
In the breaststroke events, senior
Megan Bartels took third in both the 100 (1:12.74) and 200 (2:38.97), while first-year
Bella Kern placed fourth in the 200 breaststroke (2:42.43) and Jostock added a fifth-place finish in the 100 (1:15.73).
Senior
Morgan Stout also set a personal best in the 1,000 freestyle, finishing fourth in 11:32.70, a 13-second improvement over her previous best. Brynda was fifth in 12:03.15.
Additional top five finishes included:
CSB's second 200 medley relay team of Thomas, Kern, Larson, and Modjeski finished fourth in 1:57.89, while the 200-freestyle relay team of Modjeski, Brynda, Green, and Thomas also took fourth (1:49.18).
On the diving boards, sophomores
Abby Stevens and
Emma Netland delivered strong performances. Stevens finished second on the 1-meter (169.40), with Netland close behind in third (164.25). On the 3-meter board, Netland placed second (178.25), while Stevens took third (160.65).
Next for the Bennies will be competing at the St. Catherine/St. Olaf Double Dual in St. Paul, Minn., on Nov. 1.
