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Oles continue to impress with win over Blugolds

Sawra Karimi
January 15, 2002

After an easy win over the Scotts, the Oles carried the momentum to the next day, Saturday, January 12, when they took on the Blugolds from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Blugolds have provided a high level of competition for the Oles and the meets have always been very close. This year, however, the Oles proved to be too much for the team from Wisconsin, as both the men?s and women?s teams captured wins. The dominating 141-88 win on the women?s side was especially rewarding, after losing to the Blugolds the past three years.

Katie Brentz (FY., Arden Hills, Minn.) and Katie Detwiler (FY., Fort Atkinson,Wis.) were both multiple winners for the Oles. Brentz had a great swim in the 50-yard freestyle. Her sub 25 time of 24.86 was over a second faster then the runner up swimmer from Eau Claire. Her winning time of 55.16 in the 100-yard freestyle was also a very impressive time at this point in the season.

Detwiler set herself apart as one of the top distance swimmers in the conference when she turned in a winning time of 11:01.23 in the 1000-yard freestyle. She came back two events later to easily win the 200-yard individual medley. Lastly, Detwiler finished off her hard day of competition with a win in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:19.17.

Jenna Kubat (FY., Des Moines, Iowa) was another double winner against the Blugolds. Her times of 2:03.78 in the 200-yard freestyle and 5:35.34 in the 500-yard freestyle were good enough for easy wins. Kate Nygaard (Jr., Franktown, Colo.) also had a great day for the Oles. The junior has been battling shoulder problems through out the year and her hard work and dedication to rehabilitation is finally paying off. Although the Oles chose to exhibition the 200-yard breaststroke, Nygaard turned in not only the fastest time of the meet (2:35.34), but also her season best. Nygaard is currently the number one breaststroker on the team, and will be looked toward to replace the spot left open with the absence of Anna Guenther (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.), who is in Spain for the semester.

The Ole men also swam to an easy 159-64 win over the Blugolds. They started out the competition with a win in the 400-yard medley relay. 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.) teamed up to blow away the competition with a time of 3:36.75.

Hvistendahl went on to win the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:57.64, while Connelly captured the win in the 100-yard freestyle (48.95). Palmer was not to be outdone and turned in the best time in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:15.92.

Lee Thomsen (So., El Cajon, Calif.) once again had an outstanding meet with wins in both the 200 and 500-yard freestyles. His time of 4:59.65 was only a tenth of a second off his season best and was only the second time Thomsen has gone under the five-minute mark this year.

Pat Marzolf?s (So., St. Paul, Minn.) performance in the 200-yard butterfly was one of the most inspiring of the meet. Marzolf has been one of the top performers for the Oles through out the year in the butterfly, IM, and distance events. Unfortunately, Marzolf?s hard work and dedication have also resulted in shoulder problems. His time in the 200-yard butterfly time was a good sign that this sophomore standout is still on track to have an outstanding conference meet.

Drew Vanderwert (FY., St. Paul, Minn.) had his best meet of the season while sprinting to a win in the 50-yard freestyle, with a season best time of 22.51. Vanderwert also had a runner up performance in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.90.

The Ole?s ability to be competitive two days in a row, first against Macalester and then Eau Claire, was an encouraging sign that the team is on their way to being successful at the conference meet. They will travel to St. Cloud this coming Saturday, January 19, for a dual meet against the St. Cloud State Huskies. The meet will start at 4:00 p.m.

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