ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict athletic department celebrated the accomplishments of the 2025-26 athletic year in May with its annual student-athlete celebration. Twelve Bennies were announced as finalists for the annual CSB Rookie of the Year award, presented to the top newcomer of the season in each sport.

Sprinter Anna Schottler (Chanhassen, Minn.) was named swim & dive's finalist for the award.

Schottler made a splash in her rookie year, helping the Bennies to three MIAC titles in three relay events at the conference championships. She was a five-time All-MIAC honoree, finishing first in the 200-yard medley relay, 400-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay and second in the 400-yard freestyle relay and 50-yard freestyle. She was also All-MIAC honorable mention in the 100-yard freestyle. 

She totaled 14 event wins across eight meets and was a part of four school-record relays. She swam the third-fastest 50-yard freestyle (23.81) and 100-yard freestyle (52.67) in school history, while her 200-yard freestyle time (3:56.44) ranks sixth in the program record book.

A dual-sport athlete, Schottler also competed for the Bennie track & field team in the 200- and 400-meter dashes. She won two events as a member of the CSB 4x400-meter relay and earned All-MIAC honorable mention honors (4th) at the MIAC Outdoor Championship. 

The Bennies finished fifth out of nine teams Feb. 11-14 at the 2026 MIAC Championships and 29th out of 44 teams March 18-21 at the NCAA Division III Championships. CSB collected the program's highest conference meet point total (467) since 2011-12 (478) and won eight conference titles. Junior Haley Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.) earned All-America honors with a runner-up finish in the 100-yard butterfly, the highest finish by any Bennie swimmer at the national meet. She was named the MIAC Women's Swimmer of the Year after breaking eight program records and winning six MIAC titles. Saint Benedict head coach Mandy Wolvert was honored as the MIAC Coach of the Year after coaching her athletes to 13 All-MIAC and honorable mention honors, the most since 1998-99.