The Gustavus women’s swimming got the new year off to a great start with an impressive first place finish at the St. John’s/St. Ben’s Winter Invitational which took place in Collegeville, Minnesota on Saturday. The Gusties were led by Sarah Koepp who finished first in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke and swam a leg of the winning 400 medley relay. Gustavus totalled 1173.5 points which was more than 500 points better than runner-up St. Ben’s with 650. Others competing included St. Thomas with 503.5 and Hamline with 270.
Individually, the Gusties six individual event titles and two of the three relays. First-year Sarah Koepp (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) led the way with her event titles in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke. Other individual event winners included Emma Espel (So., Fargo, No. Dak., North) in the 200 yard butterfly, Maria Freund (Fy., Buffalo, Minn.) in the one-meter diving, Carrie Gunderson (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) in the 500 yard freestyle, and Ericka Hickey (So., Great Falls, Mont.) in the 100 yard butterfly. Espel added a second place finish in the 100 yard butterfly, while Gunderson added a second place finish in the 100 yard freestyle. Other second place finishes included Britta Nelson (So., Morrison, Colo./Bear Creek) in the 200 yard butterfly, Brittani Matzke (Fy., Buffalo, Minn.) in one meter diving, and Christi O’Conner (Fy., Great Falls, Mont.) in the 200 yard backstroke.
Jonna Berry (Fy., Hastings, Minn.) posted a second place finish in the 200 yard freestyle and a third placce finish in the 50-yard freestyle.