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Ole swimmers compete with the Nation's Elite

Sawra Karimi
November 20, 2001

Select members of the St. Olaf swimming and diving team traveled up to the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center this past weekend for a three-day invitational. The meet consisted of teams from the Big Ten Conference, along with various other Division I teams. Although the level of competition was very high, the Ole men and women showed no signs of intimidation.

The meet was run in a championship format, meaning that preliminaries were swum in the morning and finals in the evening. In each event, 24 swimmers advanced to the evening session. Because of the high level of competition, the Oles were only able to send a handful of swimmers to the finals but Coach Bob Hauck was still very satisfied with the performance of all of the swimmers, "The team showed that they were able to do well in a championship environment".

Katie Detwiler (FY, Fort Atkinson, Wis.) had a stand out swim in the preliminaries of the 400 Individual Medley with a time of 4:41.93. She was able reach the finals were she placed 24th. Her preliminary time was not only a lifetime best, but was also a national B cut time and only two seconds off of the St. Olaf school record.

All-American breaststroker Anna Guenther (Jr, Minneapolis, Minn.) showed her prowess by a great swim in the preliminaries of the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:30.50 that was good enough to advance her to the evening session where she finished 23rd.

Laura Schutt (Jr, Niles, Ill.) once again displayed her consistency in the distance freestyle events with a great 500 freestyle and mile, but also showed her versatility by turning in a great time of 2:18.45 in the 200 yard backstroke

Other highlights for the Ole women came from the 200-medley relay team of Liz Hathaway (So, Lincoln, Neb.), Guenther, Katie Buecksler (Jr, Owatonna, Minn.) and Katie Brentz (FY, Arden Hills, Minn.). The foursome turned in a time of 1:53.78, which was faster then last years relay at the conference meet. This was an encouraging peek towards the future capabilities of this foursome at the end of the season. Brentz also sprinted to an in-season best of 24.64 in the 50-yard freestyle.

The men performed equally well against the talented Division I swimmers and divers. The highest place on the men?s side came from diver Gabe Korteum (Sr, Andover, Minn.) who placed seventh on the one-meter board, and eighth on the three-meter board. In the pool, backstroker Jake Hvistendahl (So, Minnetonka, Minn.) was able to make it to the evening session where won his heat to place 17th with a time of 53:48. The Ole?s showed their ability to work together as team in the 400 IM where four swimmers finished within ten seconds of each other. Pat Marzolf (So, St. Paul, Minn.) led the way with a time of 4:19.55. Jim Chase (Sr, Winnetka, Ill.) and Adam Lukens (Jr, Wichita, Kan.).) followed him with times of 4:27.05 and 4:23.17 respectively. Tom Dow (Sr, Poway, Calif.) also made it to the evening session in this event with a preliminary time of 4:25.93.

In the 200-yard freestyle, the Ole men also had a strong showing. Lee Thomsen (So, LaJolla, Calif.) finished 20th with a time of 1:44.88 and Bo Connelly (Sr, Hutchinson, Minn.) dropped time and finished 26th with a time of 1:46.66. Eric Palmer (So, Roseville, Minn.) was in top form and had a great time of 1:01.18 in the 100-yard breaststroke.

As the whole both teams showed their ability to be competitive, even when competing against Division I teams. They also proved their mental and physical endurance through out this three-day meet. From the first swim Friday morning until the final swim on Sunday evening, the Oles put in 100 percent, and many swimmers had their best swims on Sunday, when most swimmers are fatigued.

The Oles will now take a well-deserved Thanksgiving break and will be back in the pool at 4:00 PM Friday, November 30 when they take on St. Mary?s University in Winona.

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