ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – With confidence high and records already falling, the College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team is hitting the road again this weekend. The Bennies will travel to St. Paul on Saturday, Nov. 1, to compete in the St. Catherine/St. Olaf Quad, set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Butler Center.

Under the leadership of head coach Mandy Wolvert, CSB has opened the 2024–25 season with energy and consistency across three early meets. The Bennies began with a second-place finish at the St. Catherine Pentathlon on Oct. 11, followed by a dominant team title at the CSB/SJU Invitational a week later. Last weekend, they showed their depth again despite falling in a tight 167–132 dual meet to Macalester on Oct. 25.

Zelen's Record-Setting Season Continues
Even in defeat, the Bennies' performance against Macalester showcased the team's growth and individual firepower. CSB claimed seven event victories and 18 top-three finishes, led once again by junior standout Haley Zelen, who continued her record-breaking run.

Zelen's afternoon was nothing short of electric. She broke her own school record in the 100 butterfly for the third straight week, clocking 56.68 to surpass her previous mark of 57.07. She also earned wins in the 100 freestyle (52.85) and 100 backstroke (1:01.00) — both among the top times in CSB program history.

Her success extended to the relays as well. Zelen teamed up with Mary Morris, Megan Bartels, and Anna Schottler to take first in the 200 medley relay with a season-best 1:50.96, narrowly missing a spot in CSB's all-time top 10. The Bennies also took second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:45.92) with Morris, Schottler, Lydia Jostock, and Jayda Alholm.

The team's younger swimmers continued to impress. First-year Josey Larson notched her first collegiate victory in the 200 butterfly (2:16.40) — a time that ranks 10th in school history. Fellow first-year Anna Schottler earned her first win in the 50 freestyle (24.98) and added a runner-up finish in the 500 freestyle (5:34.09).

Morris turned in a strong all-around meet as well, winning the 200 backstroke (2:11.37) and placing second in the 200 freestyle (2:01.60). In the breaststroke events, senior Megan Bartels finished third in both the 100 (1:12.74) and 200 (2:38.97), while senior Morgan Stout shaved 13 seconds off her personal best in the 1,000 freestyle, finishing fourth in 11:32.70.

Zelen and Netland Honored by MIAC
Zelen's record-breaking pace has not gone unnoticed. The junior transfer has already earned back-to-back MIAC Swimmer of the Week honors, rewriting multiple program records in just a few meets.

At the CSB/SJU Invitational on Oct. 18, she collected four individual titles, broke her own 100 butterfly record, and helped anchor a victorious 200 medley relay (1:53.19) alongside Lauren Sitzman, Bartels, and Schottler. The Bennies swept the top three spots in that event and also captured the 200 freestyle relay in 1:45.70.

Depth has been CSB's calling card early this season. Bartels claimed three wins at the home invite, including the 200 breaststroke (2:39.64) and 200 IM (2:24.85), where the Bennies swept the top five spots. Sitzman took the 200 backstroke title (2:21.52), while Stout dominated the distance races, sweeping the 500 (5:40.72) and 1,000 freestyle (11:45.29).

In the diving well, Emma Netland and Abby Stevens battled for the top spot, finishing first and second on the 3-meter board by just 0.4 points (160.70 to 160.30). Netland also placed third on the 1-meter (161.75), performances that earned her MIAC Diving Athlete of the Week on Oct. 21.

Strong Start Sets the Tone
The Bennies set the tone for their season back on Oct. 11 at the St. Catherine Pentathlon, finishing second overall behind Division II Concordia–St. Paul with 5,150 points. Zelen once again led the charge, winning four of five events, breaking two school records, and claiming the individual pentathlon title with 413 points. Schottler placed fifth overall, while Bartels finished 12th.

Up Next
Saint Benedict will look to keep its early-season momentum rolling this weekend in St. Paul before returning home for a tough matchup against the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse on Saturday, Nov. 8.