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Swimmers and divers prove their talent at MIAC Championships

Sawra Karimi
February 26, 2002

The accumulation of over five months of dedication and commitment came to a front as the Oles competed at the conference championship this past February 21st-23rd, at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. The Ole spirit and enthusiasm that has been present through out the year, was expressed to even a higher degree at this intense 3-day competition. The men finished a close second behind Gustavus with 801 points, and the women finished a respectable third with 682 points. The Gustavus women took home the championship with 814.5 points over Carleton?s 749 points, after being runner up to them last year.

Both the men and the women had an unusually strong first day of competition. The women began with a third place finish in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 4:05.24. The team of Katie Detwiler (FY, Fort Atkinson, Wisc.), Kate Nygaard (JR, Franktown, Colo.), Katie Buecksler (JR, Owatonna, Minn.), and Katie Brentz (FY, Arden Hills, Minn.) put forth their best to achieve this season best time. On the men?s side the foursome of Jake Hvistendahl (SO, Minnetonka, Minn.), Eric Palmer (SO, Roseville, Minn.), Adam Garrett (SO, Cannon Falls, Minn.), and Bo Connelly (SR, Hutchinson, Minn.) continued their winning streak from the year and won with a time of 3:29.79, narrowly out-touching Gustavus. In the first individual event of the meet, the 500-yard freestyle, the Oles also had a strong showing. Laura Schutt (JR, Niles, Ill.) was the top Ole for the women with her 5th place finish in a time of 5:22.68. Jenna Kubat (FY, Des Moines, Iowa) finished right behind her with a time of 5:24.06. Anne Lindberg (SO, Maple Grove, Minn.) came through after a shaky season to finish eighth. The momentum continued for the men where Lee Thomsen (SO, El Cajon, Calif.) had a 6th place finish with a time of 4:53.40.

Sara Champlin ( FY, Prescott, Wisc.) led the women in the 200 IM with a 6th place finish. Her time of 2:14.52 was a six second drop from her personal best. Liz Hathaway (SO, Lincoln, Neb.) also had an amazing finals swim. She dropped four seconds from her morning swim to finish 10th with a time of 2:16.83.

Ryan Lussenden?s (SR, Morris, Minn.) 200 IM performances was just the beginning of an outstanding meet for this outstanding senior. Lussenden not only achieved a lifetime best time of 1:55.84 to finish third but also was under the national B cut. Lussenden also had a phenomenal 100-yard breaststroke to win the championship. His time of 58.06 should qualify him for the national meet and was a personal best for the senior. Lussenden?s outstanding performances didn?t end there as he also qualified for nationals in the 200-yard breaststroke, with a time of 2:08.91. "Overall, the whole meet took me by complete surprise, and all of these times were unexpected. I am looking forward to seeing what I can do at nationals" said Lussenen after his amazing weekend.

The Ole sprinters once again came through in the 50-yard freestyle. Katie Brentz finished fourth with a time of 24.40, and Bo Connelly led the male sprinters with his nail biter second place finish. Connelly?s time of 21.25 was a national B cut.

The Ole divers showed their domination on the one-meter competition with a sweep of the medals. Gabe Korteum (SR, Andover, Minn.) won with 527.70 points followed by Kyle Rudser (SR, Northfield, Minn.) and then Jake Dunn (SR, St. Charles, Minn.) with scores of 466.45 and 465.35, respectively. All three men achieved the national cut and will most likely qualify. The women also had a strong showing, finishing fifth, sixth, and seventh with Jenn Williams (SO, Cambridge, Minn.), Stacy Koskiniemi (SR, Blaine, Minn.), and Collin Cunningham (FY, University Place, Wash.), respectively. Korteum also won the three-meter competition that concluded on Saturday, and Rudser was runner up for the second time. Brad Wourms (FY, Cohasset, Minn.) was the surprise on this board with his 4th place finish with a score of 413.35. Anna Rickert (JR, Northfield, Minn.) was the only female to make finals on three-meter, and she placed 8th with a 299.90.

The Oles finished off the first day with the 200-freestlye relay where both the men and the women had third place finishes. Brentz, Hathaway, Buecksler, and Champlin surprised everyone with their time of 1:39.98. This was supposed to be the weakest of the five Ole relays, but these four women showed that they were more then capable of turning in a fast time. Drew Vanderwert (FY, St. Paul, Minn.), Thomsen, Garret, and Jim Chase (SR, Winnetka, Ill.) teamed up for the men to turn in a 1:26.33 in the event.

After an amazing first day the Oles came back hungry for more. They were once again successful in dominating many of the events. The Oles had four individual conference champions crowned this day as well as a winning relay. Detwiler led the way by winning the 400 IM and qualifying for nationals in the event. Her time of 4:37.90 was two seconds under the St. Olaf school record set by Chrissy Seuole, and was also a conference record. This freshman has had nothing but an outstanding season, and was definitely the standout freshmen competitor at the meet. Pat Marzolf (SO, St. Paul, Minn.)was the men?s champion in same event. He came from behind in the last 100-yards of the race to win with a time of 4:11.54. Marzolf was well deserving of this win due to his dedication and hard work through out the entire season.

Jake Hvistendahl tied for first place in the 100-yard backstroke to add to the wins by the Oles on the second day of competition. His time of 52.07 was well under the national B-cut and he should also qualify for nationals. Hvistendahl and Lussenden were part of the 200-medley relay that broke the school and conference record on their way to a win. Adam Garret and Bo Connelly were also part of this relay that finished with a time of 1:34.23.

Sara Champlin, Kate Nygaard, Connelly, and Katie Buecksler also had outstanding individual performances. Connelly continued his trend of suspenseful races in the 200-yard freestyle. He battled back and forth for the lead until the very end where he was just out-touched for the win. His time of 1:43.10 was outstanding and should also qualify him for nationals. Champlin finished fourth in the 400 IM with a time of 4:46.60 and Kate Nygaard finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:08.98. Katie Buecksler achieved a lifetime best in the same event, finishing fifth with a time of 1:09.77.

On the final day of competition the Ole athletes continued to give their best effort. Tom Dow (SR, Poway, Calif.) turned in the most inspirational and unbelievable swim of the entire meet. After a disappointing 6th place finish in the 400 IM Dow came back to win the 200-yard breaststroke with an amazing time of 2:06.71 Dow was seeded fifth after the preliminary swim with a 2:12.90, and dropped over six seconds in finals. His win from the outside lane not only had the St. Olaf athletes and fans in an uproar, but everyone in the entire building on there feet. Dow himself was shocked by his performance, "I looked up at the board and I was simply amazed. It was the best swim of my life, and something I will never forget." In addition, because of his phenomenal swim Dow will have the opportunity to swim at the national championships.

Katie Detwiler turned in a great performance to add another conference win to her already impressive list of swimming accolades. Detwiler dominated the 1650-yard swim winning with a time of 18:00.19. Detwiler also turned in the fastest time in the competition in the 200-yard butterfly of 2:11.80, unfortunately it was in her preliminary swim. In the finals Detwiler was somewhat fatigued from her 1650 and ended up finishing third with a time of 2:14.40.

Laura Schutt had an impressive 1650 as well, finishing 5th with a lifetime best of 18:24.19. On the men?s side Pat Marzolf again led the Oles. Marzolf finished 4th with a time of 17:02.48. Marzolf also finished fourth in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:02.77, which was slower then his morning swim of 2:00.63. Jenn Rasmusson (JR, Salt Lake City, Utah) and Liz Hathaway had amazing swims in the 200-yard backstroke. Rasmussen dropped over 6 seconds from her season best to go a 2:14.96 in prelims, and finished 7th in finals. Hathaway had the fastest morning swim and was seeded first going into finals with a time of 2:12.78, she swam just as fast in finals but placed 4th.

Sonia Karimi (JR, Northfield, Minn.), Jenna Kubat, and Kate Nygaard also fared well on Saturday. Karimi finished 5th fifth in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:16.74, and Kubat was close behind, touching the wall with a 2:17.94, that earned her seventh place. Nygaard placed third in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:29.64. Katie Brentz and Bo Connelly once again place high in their freestyle events. Both placed third with times of 53.96 and 46.50, respectively.

Coach Bob Hauck was ecstatic about the performances of all his athletes. "It was one of the most fun meets I have ever been apart of". Fortunately, the fun isn?t quite over for the Oles. They were able to qualify a handful of athletes for the NCAA Division III championships. On the men?s side it is likely that Connelly, Lussenden, Garret, Hvistendahl, Dow, Korteum, Rudser, and Dunn will be invited to the meet. On the women?s side Katie Detwiler and possibly Katie Brentz will be representing the Oles.

Contact Judy Stromayer at 507-786-3315 or stromaye@stolaf.edu.