ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — The College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team hasn't simply opened the 2025–26 season strong—they've surged into it. The College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team will compete at the Rochester Invite on Dec. 4-6 at the Rochester Recreation Center in Rochester, Minn. The competition will start on Thursday and each day begins with prelims at 10 a.m., and finals at 5 p.m.

Head coach Mandy Wolvert has guided a CSB squad that is deeper, sharper, and more competitive with every competition. What began with a runner-up finish at the St. Catherine Pentathlon on Oct. 11 has grown into two-month stretch defined by big relay moments, breakthrough swims and top-10 program marks.

On Thursday, events include the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 800 free relay and 200 medley relay, and 100 fly as well as 3-meter diving. On Friday, the events include 400 medley relay and 200 free relay, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 1-meter diving. On Saturday, the competition concludes with the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 100 IM, 400 free relay, and 200 fly as well as the 1,650 free.

Top Times - 2025-26 Season
50 Free - Haley Zelen, 23.91; Anna Schottler, 24.98; Mary Morris, 26.23
100 Free - Haley Zelen, 52.34; Anna Schottler, 55.10; Jayda Alholm, 58.27
200 Free - Mary Morris, 2:01.28; Anna Schottler, 2:02.45; Maddie Stutelberg, 2:07.42
500 Free - Mary Morris, 5:31.69; Anna Schottler, 5:34.09; Morgan Stout, 5:35.37
1000 Free - Morgan Stout, 11:32.70; Izzy Green, 11;53.46; Maddie Brynda, 12:00.24
1650 Free - Morgan Stout, 19:25.00; Izzy Green, 20:03.06; Maddie Brynda, 20:11.10
50 Back - Mary Morris, 28:56; Haley Zelen, 29:43; Josie Thomas, 30.22
100 Back - Mary Morris, 1:00.39; Haley Zelen, 1:00.63; Josie Thomas, 1:05.28
200 Back - Mary Morris, 2:08.92; Lauren Sitzman, 2:21.52; Maddie Stutelberg, 2:24.29
50 Breast - Haley Zelen, 31.94; Bella Kern, 33.57; Megan Bartels, 33.81
100 Breast - Haley Zelen, 1:06.76; Megan Bartels, 1:12.55; Bella Kern, 1:12.85
200 Breast - Megan Bartels, 2:38.97; Bella Kern, 2:40.77; Lydia Jostock, 2:46.10
50 Fly - Haley Zelen, 25.39; Addie Marsolek, 29.30; Anna Schottler, 29.30
100 Fly - Haley Zelen, 56.33; Josey Larson, 1:01.87; Anna Schottler, 1:02.65
200 Fly - Josey Larson, 2:16.12; Izzy Green, 2:27.75; Isabella Anderson, 2:28.07
100 IM - Haley Zelen, 59.76; Anna Schottler, 1:04.89; Megan Bartels, 1:05.71
200 IM - Mary Morris, 2:20.52; Lydia Jostock, 2:23.16; Megan Bartels, 2:24.85
400 IM - Josey Larson, 5:05.55; Izzy Green, 5:18.66; Jayda Alholm, 5:20.99
200 Free Relay - 1:45.70, Anna Schottler, Maddie Modjeski, Addie Marsolek, Jayda Alholm
400 Free Relay - 3:40.29, Anna Schottler, Mary Morris, Josey Larson, Haley Zelen
200 Medley Relay - 1:50.96,  Mary Morris, Megan Bartels, Haley Zelen, Anna Schottler
400 Medley Relay - 408.65, Mary Morris, Haley Zelen, Josey Larson, Jayda Alholm
1M Diving (11) - Emma Netland, 291.15; Sadie Kraft, 214.60
1M Diving (6) - Abby Stevens, 169.40; Emma Netland, 168.90; Sadie Kraft, 131.05
3M Diving (6) - Emma Netland, 184.05; Abby Stevens, 160.65
3M Diving (11) - Emma Netland, 306.65
 
CSB has solid performance at St. Cloud dual
CSB collected four event titles and 20 top-five finishes Saturday (Nov. 15) but fell, 203–90, to NCAA Division II St. Cloud State at Halenbeck Hall Aquatic Center. Junior standout Haley Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.) powered CSB with three individual victories. Zelen won the 100 butterfly in 56.66, narrowly missing her school record of 56.33 set a week earlier. She added a win in the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.34 — the second-fastest mark in program history — and topped the field in the 50 butterfly in 25.39. Zelen also helped the 400 medley relay to a runner-up finish in 4:08.65 alongside junior Mary Morris (St. Cloud, Minn.), first-year Josey Larson (Hastings, Minn.) and junior Jayda Alholm (Little Falls, Minn.). St. Ben's other victory came in the 200 freestyle relay, where Alholm, senior Megan Bartels (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), first-year Lydia Jostock (Delano, Minn.) and sophomore Ava Niksich (Hermantown, Minn.) combined for the win.

CSB has solid effort at UW-LaCrosse
At UW–La Crosse, Haley Zelen delivered one of the most dominant outings of her career—three individual victories, two school-record swims, and yet another fast climb up CSB's all-time lists. It was an effort that earned the junior standout her fourth MIAC Swimming Athlete of the Week honor. Zelen opened with a 23.91 in the 50 freestyle, the third-fastest time in program history, then sprinted through the 100 free in 53.00. She capped the meet by dropping her school record again in the 100 butterfly, touching in 56.33—her fifth straight meet lowering that mark. Junior Mary Morris added a win of her own in the 200 backstroke (2:13.26) and helped power CSB's relays to top four finishes across the board. First-year Josey Larson and senior Megan Bartels continued to emerge as key contributors, while senior Morgan Stout anchored the distance events with a top three finish in the 1,650 free and a strong runner-up showing in the 500. Despite falling, 179–114, to UW–La Crosse, the Bennies left the meet with four event titles, 18 top four finishes and, perhaps more importantly, another step forward in depth and consistency.

Zelen leads CSB at double dual
The Bennies split their matchups at the St. Catherine/St. Olaf Double Dual—rolling past St. Catherine 204–82 before falling to a strong St. Olaf squad. Still, CSB walked away with six event wins and an undeniable sense that their young athletes are rounding into form. Zelen knocked down her 100-fly school record for the fourth straight week (56.47) and picking up wins in both the 100 breaststroke (1:06.76) and 50 freestyle (24.25). She capped the day by anchoring the winning 400 freestyle relay alongside Anna Schottler, Morris, and Larson. Larson, a standout first-year, delivered the biggest breakthrough of the meet by winning the 200 butterfly in a personal-best 2:16.12—now ninth-fastest in CSB history. Schottler continued her impressive debut campaign with runner-up finishes in the 100 and 200 freestyle races. Morris added a decisive win in the 200 back, while Stout and Bartels delivered crucial points in distance and breaststroke events. On the boards, Emma Netland remained steady with top six finishes in both diving events.

Bennies have strong meet with Macalester
Before that, CSB's fall momentum took shape during a tightly contested dual with Macalester, a 167–132 loss that felt more like a preview of what the Bennies might become. CSB collected seven event wins and 18 top three finishes. Haley Zelen led the charge—breaking her 100 butterfly record for the third straight week (56.68) and adding victories in the 100 free and 100 backstrokes. Larson picked up her first collegiate win in the 200 butterfly, Schottler claimed her first victory in the 50 freestyle, and Morris dominated the 200 backstroke. Depth was the difference-maker: Bartels nabbed two top three finishes in breaststroke, Stout dropped a remarkable 13 seconds off her 1,000 free time, and CSB's relays continued to show championship-level potential.

Award winners and early headlines
Zelen's strong start has earned her four MIAC Swimmer of the Week honors, a streak unmatched in recent CSB history. Diver Emma Netland picked up MIAC Diving Athlete of the Week recognition in mid-October after edging teammate Abby Stevens by less than half a point on the 3-meter board.