The Gustavus men’s swimming and diving team recorded six event wins on the way to a first place finish at the Citrus Classic held on Dec. 30 at the Mesa Aquatics Swim Club in Mesa, Arizona. The Gusties earned 522.5 points to edge Gannon University who placed second with 497 points. Rounding out the competition was the University of Ottawa in third with 214.5 points and Hamline in fourth with 159 points.
The Gustavus relays had a good day with two wins at the meet. Ross Larson, Elliot Hoekstra, Matt Van Fossen, and Billy Schultze won the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:45.22, while Larson, Ben Stewart, Kurt Youngdahl, and Schultze teamed up to win the 400 free relay with a time of 3:21.35.
Kurt Youngdahl, Gunnar Teigen, Billy Schultze, and Steve Manly all provided individual wins for the Gusties. Youngdahl recorded a time of 22.73 in the 50 freestyle to tie Matt Dans of the University of Ottawa for first place in the race. He also added a second place finish in the 100 free after going 49.39.
Teigen recorded two finishes on the podium as well, winning the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:08.34 and third in the 1650 free with a time of 18:53.22. Schultze touched the wall in 48.28 to win the 100 free, while Manly won the 400 individual medley in 4:38.33.
Other members of the men’s squad to earn medalist honors included Kyle Herold, Matt Van Fossen, Zach Nachtsheim, and Kento Gurung. Herold finished runner-up in the 200 free after turning in a 1:52.69, and Van Fossen placed third in the 400 IM with a mark of 4:39.71. Van Fossen also added a fifth place finish in the 200 butterfly. Nachtsheim and Gurung both registered third place finishes in their respective events, Nachtsheim in the 50 free (22.78) and Gurung in the 500 free (5:21.29).
The Gustavus men’s swimming and diving team returns to Minnesota to take on Carleton in a dual on Saturday, Jan. 7 in St. Peter, Minn. The meet is designated as Senior Day as it is the last home meet of the season.