The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team opened its 2011-12 home schedule with a 184-96 loss to St. Cloud State University in a dual meet on Saturday afternoon in the Lund Natatorium. The Gustie women recorded three event wins and 12 individual top-three finishes in the contest.
“We had a lot of great swims today. Both the coaches and athletes are excited for the rest of the season because of how the team swam today,” said Head Coach Jon Carlson. ” St. Cloud is an awesome team and it was fun to go up against a squad of its caliber.”
Crossing the finish line in first place for Gustavus was Katie Olson, Jennifer Strom, and the 200-free relay. Katie Olson touched the wall first in the 200 free with a time of 2:01.50. Strom took the 200 IM with a time of 2:18.37 while also adding a second place finish in the 200 breaststroke after going 2:31.44.
The 200-free relay team comprised of Allyson Hannemann, Serena Elthon, Sarah Hund, and Kelsey Lucia turned in a time of 1:39.18 to edge a second place St. Cloud team that finished in 1:39.54. The 200-medley relay team of Alissa Tinklenberg, Steph Korba, Stom, and Kelsey Lucia swam to a second place finish in 1:51.14, rounding out the team’s top relay performances.
Kelsey Lucia and Alissa Tinklenberg both tallied a pair of top-three marks. Lucia finished runner-up in the 50 free with a time of 24.69 and third in the 100 free with a time of 55.32. Tinklenberg placed second in the 200 backstroke in 2:11.38 and third in the 500 free in 48.10.
Katie Olson and Abby Lyle also added second place marks. Olson took second in the 100 free with a time of 54.76, and Lyle finished second with a time of 2:24.84 in the 200 IM.
Rounding out the top Gustavus individual performers was Heather Funai, Hannemann, Melissa Aune, and Gabe Gazzola. Funai logged Gustavus’ top diving performance of the afternoon with a 187.30 (3rd) on the one-meter. Hannemann, Aune and Gazzola all placed third in their respective races – Hannemann in the 100 back (1:03.73), Aune in the 1000 free (11:22.24), and Gazzola in the 200 IM (2:25.22).
The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team will be back in the pool on Saturday, Nov. 12 in a dual meet against St. Olaf beginning at 1:00 p.m. in St. Peter, Minn.