Billy Schultze – January Male Student-Athlete of the Month – Senior, Swimming
The Gustavus men’s swimming and diving team had a strong showing during the month of January, which included a victory over Carleton, second place at the seven-team Grinnell Invite and tough loss at conference stronghold St. Thomas. Through wins and losses, though, senior Billy Schultze has been a consistent force for the Gustie men and for his accomplishment during the month, the Office of Sports Information has named Schultze Male Student-Athlete of the Month for January.
The month began with a home meet at Lund Natatorium against Carleton, which the Gustie men won by a score of 186-112. Schultze started the New Year with one of his best performances of the season. The Mankato, Minn. native took the podium in two individual events and was part of a first place relay team. Schultze started the day with a first place finish in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:47.68. The 100-yard breaststroke was the only event he did not win, taking second in 1:02.74. The senior rebounded with another top spot in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:16.66. And to cap off the day, Schultze teamed up with Zach Nachtscheim, Sam Olson-Anstett and Kurt Youngdahl to claim the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:28.02.
After a weekend off, the Gustie men traveled to Iowa to compete in the Grinnell Invitational on Jan. 20-21. The Gusties took second place out of seven teams with a score of 1,290.5. Schultze posted two individual wins in the freestyle sprints and took second in four other events. He won both the 50 and 100 free with times of 22.02 and 47.55, respectively. In the mid-range frees, Schultze took a minor setback. He took second in the 200 free in 1:46.30 and fourth in the 500 free with a time of 5:01.75. In the relays, though, Schultze and his teammates took second in three of four events. His team of Nachtscheim, Olson-Anstett and Youngdahl won silver in the 200 free relay in 1:27.76. In the 200 medley relay, Schultze, Elliot Hoekstra, Ross Larson and Matt Van Fossen touched the wall second in 1:40.21 for second as well. And the next team to claim second was in the 400 free relay, comprised of Schultze, Kyle Herold, Stewart and Youngdahl in 3:14.21. Taking fourth place in the 800 free relay was Schultze, Larson, Ben Stewart and Gunnar Teigan in 7:24.83.
To finish the month, Schultze didn’t win any events at the St. Thomas dual meet, but still placed in the top four in all four events he participated in. In his only relay event of the day, Schultze’s team of Larson, Nachtscheim and Van Fossen took second in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:38.42. Individually, Schultze took second in the 200 breast (2:13.55), third in the 200 free (1:47.20) and fourth in the 50 free (22.20). St. Thomas won the event by a score of 185-106.
The Gustie men take to the pool this weekend at the Minnesota Challenge in Minneapolis hosted by the University of Minnesota. Friday’s events begin at 6:00 p.m. The Gusties then have the following weekend off to prepare for the MIAC Championships on Feb. 16-18.