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Ole women compete at Nationals

Sawra Karimi
April 2, 2002

Katie Detwiler (FY, Fort Atkinson, Wisc.) and Katie Brentz (FY, Arden Hills, Minn.) traveled to Ohio on March 14th-March16th to compete at the NCAA Division III national championships, which were held at the University of Miami at Ohio. Although they didn?t score any points a the meet both women competed with a high level of intensity which is difficult to do at a post-season meet like nationals. Bob Hauck was very happy with the enthusiasm the women brought to the meet. " Both of them went into their races with high expectations and the desire to do well, which is all you can ask for".

Katie Detwiler achieved a season best time on the first day of competition in the 200-yard individual medley. She finished 32nd out of 45 with a time of 2:13.45. Detwiler qualified for the national meet due to her performance in the 400-yard individual medley at the conference meet. Her time of 4:37.80 was just far enough under the provisional B-cut to allow her to compete. Detwiler?s time at Nationals was 4:41.61 which placed her 26th out of 33 competitors. It is difficult to maintain ones time in an event of this distance, but Detwiler gave it her best, and still achieved a very competitive time. On the last day of competition Detwiler competed in the 200-yard butterfly, where she finished 25th with a time of 2:12.66. Overall Detwiler was satisfied with her performances, "Just being at nationals was a great experience and I had a lot of fun".

Katie Brentz?s trip to nationals came as a surprise. Originally Brentz?s time at the conference meet met the provisional B cut, but just missed the cut off. Brentz had been out of the water for a week, when she found out that a competitor dropped out of the 50-yard freestyle and that she was now entered in the competition! Brentz took advantage of her opportunity and performed well at nationals. Her time of 24.44 in the 50-yard freestyle placed her 21st out of 41 competitors, and was only four one-hundredths off her time at the conference championships. Brentz also swam the 100-yard freestyle, and finished with a time of 54.87.

The outlook is encouraging for these two athletes. Being in their first year of college, they have three more seasons to qualify for nationals and improve their performances. Both of these athletes have been valuable attributes to the St. Olaf swim program and will continue to lead the Oles in the years to come.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3315 or finger@stolaf.edu.